A devastating landslide at a coltan mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has left at least 200 people feared dead, according to officials cited by Agence France-Presse. The disaster struck the Rubaya mining area in North Kivu, a volatile region that is currently under the control of the M23 armed group.
Authorities said the tragedy unfolded when a section of a hillside collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, burying dozens of miners and scavengers who were working at or around the site. The situation worsened the following morning when a second landslide hit the same area, compounding the destruction and increasing fears that many more people may be trapped beneath tons of earth and debris.
Local administrators appointed by the M23 group warned that the death toll is likely to rise further as recovery efforts continue and additional bodies are recovered from the rubble. However, rescue and assessment operations have been severely constrained by ongoing insecurity and a near-total breakdown in communications.
Officials and humanitarian sources said mobile phone networks in and around Rubaya have been down for several days, making it extremely difficult to gather reliable information or coordinate emergency responses. Many government officials and civil society organisations had already fled the area when rebel forces took control, leaving a significant vacuum in local administration and crisis management.
A humanitarian official told AFP that information from the affected zone is arriving only sporadically, often carried by motorbike couriers who must travel across dangerous and remote terrain. “Information is coming in dribs and drabs,” the official said, adding that confirming the precise number of casualties remains a major challenge. Meanwhile, families in nearby villages are anxiously waiting for news of missing relatives, while it is feared that numerous survivors remain buried alive under the debris.
The Rubaya mine is considered one of the most strategically important sources of coltan in the world. Coltan is a critical mineral used in the manufacture of electronic components found in smartphones, laptops, computers, and other digital devices. Experts estimate that the Rubaya site alone accounts for between 15 and 30 per cent of global coltan production, underscoring both its economic significance and the risks faced by those working there.
Control over the mine has also brought substantial financial benefits to the M23 group. According to reports, the rebels generate hundreds of thousands of dollars each month by taxing the extraction and sale of minerals, funds that are widely believed to help sustain their military operations. The mineral wealth of eastern Congo has long been a major driver of violence, with armed groups competing fiercely for access to lucrative mining areas.
United Nations experts have previously accused Rwanda of backing the M23 and benefiting indirectly from Congo’s mineral resources, allegations that Kigali has consistently denied. The Congolese government in Kinshasa blamed the tragedy on what it described as armed occupation and organised looting of the country’s natural wealth.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Congolese officials urged the international community to recognise both the scale of the disaster and the dangerous conditions under which miners in conflict zones are forced to work. Eastern Congo holds some of the world’s largest reserves of coltan, gold, and tin, making it a focal point for local militias and foreign interests alike.
The landslide has once again drawn attention to the fragile and deadly conditions prevailing in eastern Congo, where decades of conflict have created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. More than seven million people have been displaced across the region, including hundreds of thousands who have fled their homes in recent months alone. Despite diplomatic initiatives, including a US-brokered agreement between Congo and Rwanda, fighting continues on multiple fronts, with civilians bearing the brunt through repeated displacement, insecurity, and loss of life.
