UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Trade in minerals, cash crops and illegal taxation form part of the revenue stream for rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a U.N. panel found.
A panel of experts, in a report to the U.N. Security Council, concluded armed rebel groups in DRC, including the Lord's Resistance Army and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, get funds from trade in natural resources as well as illegal taxation.
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, and the Mai Mai militia were behind widespread sexual violence in DRC. The FDLR is linked to the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
The LRA was accused last year by human rights officials with the United Nations of killing at least 26 people in 53 different villages in DRC. Another 21 people, including 10 children, were kidnapped.
The U.N. panel noted the government in DRC attempted to restructure the military in parts of the country after it moved to demilitarize mining sites starting in 2010. A militant general indicted by the International Criminal Court, however, was able to exert his authority over parts of the mining sector.
The panel found the gold trade is a main source of financing for armed groups in the country. A significant portion of the mineral trade has become criminalized, the panel noted.
