Goma: A devastating landslide at a coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed more than 200 lives, including miners, children, and market vendors, according to rebel authorities in the rebel-controlled North Kivu province.
According to reports, the collapse occurred on Wednesday at the Rubaya mining site, roughly 60 km northwest of Goma, triggered by heavy rains during the unstable rainy season that caused the earth to give way beneath workers and bystanders.
Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the M23 rebel-appointed governor, confirmed the toll to Reuters, stating: “More than 200 people were victims of this landslide… Some were rescued just in time but suffered severe injuries.” Around 20 survivors are receiving treatment in Rubaya health facilities, with ambulances transferring others to Goma. An anonymous advisor to the governor pegged confirmed deaths at least 227, though independent verification remains elusive amid the chaos.
The Rubaya mines, under M23 control since 2024, produce about 15% of global coltan — a key mineral processed into tantalum for smartphones, laptops, and aerospace tech. Artisanal miner Franck Bolingo told AFP many remain trapped in shafts, buried alive after consecutive landslides on Wednesday and Thursday. The UN accuses M23, allegedly backed by Rwanda (a claim Kigali denies), of plundering minerals to fund its insurgency against Kinshasa.
Reports said rebel governance has restricted access, complicating rescue and aid efforts in the conflict zone. International calls mount for investigations into exploitative operations fueling eastern Congo’s violence.
