Overview
A landslide at the Rubaya coltan mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in more than 200 fatalities, provincial officials reported on Friday. Lubumba Kambere Muyisa, the spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, said the collapse took place on Wednesday and that the death toll was still not precisely known as of Friday evening.
Casualties and rescue
Muyisa said: "More than 200 people were victims of this landslide, including miners, children and market women. Some people were rescued just in time and have serious injuries." An adviser to the governor gave a figure of at least 227 confirmed dead but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.
Site and production
Rubaya is a significant source of coltan, producing around 15% of the world's supply of the ore that is processed into tantalum. Tantalum is a heat-resistant metal used by manufacturers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and gas turbines. At Rubaya, many local labourers dig manually and earn a few dollars per day.
Control and context
The mine has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since 2024. United Nations statements cited by provincial authorities say M23 has extracted riches from Rubaya to help fund its insurgency, and accused the group of receiving backing from the government of neighbouring Rwanda; Kigali denies that allegation. The rebels are described as heavily armed, with a stated objective of overthrowing the government in Kinshasa and of ensuring the safety of the Congolese Tutsi minority. During a rapid advance last year, they captured additional mineral-rich territory in eastern Congo.
What is known and what remains unclear
Officials have confirmed a substantial number of deaths and serious injuries, but the precise toll remains unresolved. Rescue efforts have saved some people who sustained severe injuries, and authorities continue to assess the full scale of the disaster.