M23 Parallel Administration and State-Building in Eastern Congo

under construction

The M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is building a parallel administration across the territories it controls. This includes training civilian officials, establishing a new leadership structure with provincial governors and mayors, fixing roads, imposing taxes on mines rich in critical minerals, issuing travel visas, and operating financial institutions. The group has also seized key mining sites, including the Rubaya mine, which produces 15% of the world's coltan. The project aims to create a de facto autonomous region with characteristics of a fledgling state.