DRC Government Bans Land Transactions in Rebel-Occupied Kivu Regions
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo issued a presidential decree on July 1, 2026, banning all land transactions in territories occupied by M23 and Alliance Fleuve Congo rebels. The measure targets North Kivu and South Kivu provinces to protect the property rights of displaced persons and prevent future land disputes. The move follows recent U.S. sanctions on gold refineries in Rwanda allegedly involved in mineral smuggling networks supporting the insurgency.