GOMA (Reuters) -The M23 armed group on Thursday denied accusations that its fighters had looted at least 500 kilograms of bullion from Twangiza Mining’s gold concession in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The firm operating in South Kivu province, much of which is under M23’s control, said this week that M23 had “secretly transported (the gold) through underground channels.”

It also accused the rebels of using Rwandan technicians to extract geological data to resume and expand mining.

Rwanda has consistently denied backing M23 rebels, despite repeated allegations from U.N. experts and Western and regional governments.

At a press conference on Thursday, Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes M23, said the mine was not in operation and that only artisanal miners w

See Full Page