Heavy rains triggered fatal landslides at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this week, killing at least 200 people, according to local officials. The disaster struck at a site that has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since 2024.
The deceased include miners, children, and market women, stated Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu province. At least 20 injured individuals are receiving treatment at local health facilities, with some scheduled for transfer to Goma, approximately 50 kilometres away. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities expect the death toll to rise.
A miner at the site, Franck Bolingo, described the scene: “It rained, a landslide followed, and it swept people away. Some were swallowed up, others died in the wells. Many are still trapped inside.” In response, the provincial governor has temporarily suspended artisanal mining activities and ordered the relocation of residents living in shelters near the mine.
Rubaya is a critical global supplier, producing an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s coltan, a mineral essential for manufacturing hard metals used in smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines. The United Nations has reported that M23 has systematically plundered the mine’s resources to finance its insurgency.
This tragedy occurs within a broader context of sustained violence in the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern provinces. For decades, the region has been destabilized by conflict between government forces and numerous armed groups. Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 offensive has seized extensive territory. Despite a US-brokered agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan governments and ongoing Kinshasa-rebel negotiations, fighting persists across multiple fronts.
The landslide underscores the perilous conditions faced by artisanal miners operating in conflict zones, where environmental safety is often neglected. The suspension of mining activities may disrupt the global coltan supply chain, while the humanitarian situation remains acute with recovery efforts complicated by the area’s insecure status. The incident highlights the intersection of natural disaster, armed conflict, and the high-stakes competition for mineral wealth in eastern DRC.
