Daijiworld Media Network - Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Jan 31: More than 200 people were killed this week after a coltan mine collapsed at Rubaya in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local authorities.

Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, said the collapse occurred on Wednesday and the exact death toll was still being assessed. He said the victims included miners, children and market women, adding that some people were rescued with serious injuries and around 20 injured persons were undergoing treatment at health facilities.

An adviser to the governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 227 deaths had been confirmed.

Muyisa said the incident occurred during the rainy season when the ground was fragile, adding that the soil gave way while people were working inside the mine.

Rubaya is a major source of coltan, accounting for about 15 per cent of global production. The mineral is processed into tantalum, which is widely used in the manufacture of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. Local residents reportedly work at the site manually for minimal daily wages.

The mine has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024. The United Nations has accused the group of plundering Rubaya’s mineral resources to fund its insurgency, allegedly with backing from neighbouring Rwanda, an accusation denied by Kigali.

The heavily armed rebels, who say their objective is to overthrow the government in Kinshasa and protect the Congolese Tutsi minority, captured additional mineral-rich areas in eastern Congo during a rapid advance last year.