Goma, eastern Congo – Family members and survivors gathered in mourning Monday for the victims of last week’s catastrophic collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine, a disaster that likely claimed more than 200 lives and has intensified scrutiny of the M23 rebel group’s control over the region’s mineral wealth.
The tragedy occurred after days of heavy rain triggered a landslide that crushed several hand-dug tunnels at the site, located about 40 kilometres west of Goma. Among the deceased was Bosco Nguvumali Kalabosh. His younger brother, Timothée Nzanga, recounted the frantic recovery effort, describing how rescuers initially extracted several miners, some already lifeless, while others remained trapped. “It took considerable force to try to free his body,” Nzanga said, noting that additional unidentified remains were also discovered. He expressed uncertainty about his family’s future following the loss.
The Rubaya mines are under the control of the M23, a Rwanda-backed rebel group that seized the area in 2024. The site is a critical source of coltan, a mineral essential for manufacturing mobile phones, computers, and military technology. Artisanal miners, who form the bulk of the workforce, dig narrow, precarious tunnels without proper supports or escape routes, creating conditions where a single collapse can trap hundreds.
Survivor Tumaini Munguiko described the moment the hillside gave way. “We were in the mine when it started to rain. We saw the hill collapse on the miners. Some came out safe and sound, and others died,” he stated. Following the disaster, M23 authorities suspended artisanal mining operations at the site, though the search for possible survivors continued days later.
Congo’s central government issued a statement condemning the rebels’ role. On social media, it expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and accused M23 of illegally and unsafely exploiting eastern Congo’s natural resources. The statement underscores the ongoing conflict between Kinshasa and the rebel group, which has long been accused of profiting from the region’s vast mineral deposits to fund its insurgency.
The Rubaya collapse ranks among the deadliest mining accidents in the region in recent years, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by artisanal miners in conflict zones. With global demand for coltan sustaining the operations, the disaster raises urgent questions about accountability and safety in a supply chain often linked to armed groups. While rescue efforts wind down, the incident has cast a fresh spotlight on the human cost of Congo’s mineral wealth and the contested governance of its extraction.
