Informal miners work at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern DR Congo, where landslides have killed several people amid ongoing conflict and unsafe mining conditions.
Landslides at a militia-controlled mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed several people, highlighting the deadly human cost tied to the region’s conflict-driven mineral trade.
The collapses struck the Rubaya mining zone in North Kivu, an area under the control of the M23 armed group. Witnesses said the first landslide followed heavy rainfall on Wednesday afternoon, with another occurring Thursday morning.
“It rained, then the landslide followed and swept people away. Some were buried, and others are still in the pits,” freelance miner Franck Bolingo said.
Eraston Bahati Musanga, the M23-appointed governor of North Kivu, confirmed fatalities but did not provide figures. The death toll has not been independently verified.
Survivors described narrow escapes as informal miners continued digging despite unstable ground and poor safety conditions.
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“There was a landslide when I was in a pit looking for minerals,” said Olivier Zinzabakwira. “I was lucky to get out.”
Conflict Minerals and Worker Safety
Rubaya is one of the world’s key sources of coltan, a mineral essential in producing smartphones, laptops and other electronics. Estimates suggest the mine contributes between 15 and 30 percent of global coltan supply.
United Nations experts say the M23 has established a parallel administration at the site, collecting taxes on production. The group is believed to generate significant monthly revenue from the operation.
The tragedy raises concerns about:
- Dangerous, unregulated mining conditions
- Armed group control of mineral resources
- The global electronics industry’s dependence on conflict-linked supply chains
Eastern DRC holds vast deposits of coltan, gold and tin, but decades of armed conflict have turned resource wealth into a driver of violence, exploitation and humanitarian crises.
Several international mining firms have suspended operations in the region due to insecurity.
The latest disaster underscores how local communities bear the risk, while the minerals extracted continue to power global technology markets.
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