**US Hits Rwandan Companies with Sanctions Over Illicit Minerals Trade** In a move aimed at disrupting the flow of funding to armed groups, the US has slapped sanctions on several Rwandan companies accused of facilitating the illicit trade in minerals. The sanctions, announced by the US Treasury Department, target entities that allegedly helped finance rebel groups through the sale of minerals such as tin, tungsten, and tantalum, which are often extracted from conflict zones. The move is part of a broader effort to combat the use of natural resources to finance violence and instability in the region. The sanctions are likely to have significant economic implications for the affected companies, and could also put pressure on the Rwandan government to take action to prevent the illicit trade in minerals.
The US has imposed sanctions on Rwandan companies it says helped finance armed groups through the illicit minerals trade
