The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Cooperative des Artisanaux Miniers du Congo over what it called the illicit sale of critical

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The U.S. government on Tuesday sanctioned an armed group accused of illicit trading in minerals in eastern Congo as Washington tries to spearhead peace efforts there while pushing for U.S. access to the region’s minerals.

The US has sanctioned Congo’s PARECO armed group, mining firms, and Hong Kong exporters over illicit coltan trade, as renewed clashes threaten peace talks.