Congo Coltan Mine Collapse Kills Over 20 in Rebel-Held Area

A tragic mine collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed the lives of more than 20 people, with the death toll likely to rise as rescue efforts continue. The incident occurred on Thursday at an artisanal coltan mine located near the town of Rubaya, in the Masisi territory of North Kivu Province, a region in eastern Congo.

Authorities have confirmed that at least 19 bodies were recovered from the site as of Friday, while around 100 people were rescued during the ongoing emergency response. However, several individuals are still believed to be buried beneath the debris, and the current death toll remains provisional. The cause of the collapse is still unknown, and investigations are underway.

The mine, like many in the region, is an artisanal operation—a form of small-scale, often informal mining conducted with limited technology and safety measures. Such operations are common in Congo, especially around Rubaya, which sits atop one of the world’s largest reserves of coltan—a metallic ore essential for the production of smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices. In fact, these small-scale mines near Rubaya produce approximately one-sixth of the global supply of coltan, underlining their strategic importance in the tech supply chain.

Since mid-2024, the area has been under the control of the M23 rebel group, an armed militia that has been active in the region for years. According to rebel officials, the group imposes a 15% tax on the value of coltan mined in the territory. This control has added layers of complexity to both the safety conditions at mines and the governance of natural resource extraction in the region.

The incident sheds light on the broader issues of worker safety, informal mining practices, and the interplay between conflict and resource extraction in Central Africa, particularly in areas where rebel control undermines regulatory oversight.

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