Over 200 individuals lost their lives this week due to a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the region. The information was reported to Reuters on Friday. Rubaya is responsible for about 15% of the global coltan supply, which is turned into tantalum, a metal that is highly sought after by manufacturers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace parts, and gas turbines. Locals work manually at the site, earning just a few dollars each day. Since 2024, the AFC/M23 rebel group has controlled the mine. The incident occurred on Wednesday, and as of Friday evening, the exact number of casualties was still unclear. Muyisa stated, “More than 200 people were victims of this landslide, including miners, children, and market women. Some individuals were rescued just in time and have serious injuries.” He added that around 20 injured persons were receiving treatment at local health facilities. “We are in the rainy season. The ground is fragile. It was the ground that gave way while the victims were in the hole.” An advisor to the governor, who wished to remain anonymous due to media restrictions, confirmed that at least 227 fatalities have been documented. The United Nations has reported that AFC/M23 has exploited Rubaya’s resources to finance its insurgency, which is allegedly supported by the government of Rwanda, a claim that Kigali rejects. The heavily-armed rebels, whose goal is to overthrow the Kinshasa government and protect the Congolese Tutsi minority, expanded their control over more mineral-rich areas in eastern Congo during a rapid advance last year.
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