At least 200 people are said to have died in a collapse in a coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mar 5, 2026, 6:57 amMar 5, 2026, 6:57 am
The collapse occurred on Tuesday in the Rubaya mines, which are controlled by the rebel group M23, the mining ministry said on Wednesday. The M23 disputes the information provided by the Congolese authorities. Fanny Kaj, a senior rebel official, said only five people were killed. «There was no landslide; There were bombings and the number of deaths does not correspond to what people say,” said Kaj.
Ibrahim Taluseke, a local miner, told the AP he recovered over 200 bodies from the mine. “We are afraid, but this is about human lives that are in danger.” The mine’s owners did not want the death toll to be known, he said.
At least 200 people have died in a coltan mine collapse in Congo. The country is a major supplier of coltan, which contains the rare metal tantalum needed for smartphones, computers and aircraft engines.Image: AP/chmedia
Metal is used for smartphones
Congo is a major supplier of coltan, which contains the rare metal tantalum needed for smartphones, computers and aircraft engines. The country produced about 40 percent of the world’s coltan in 2023, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Over 15 percent of the world’s tantalum supply comes from the Rubaya mines.
In May 2024, the M23 captured the city and took control of the mines. According to a UN report, the rebels have levied taxes on the trade and transport of coltan since the takeover, earning at least $800,000 a month.
Eastern Congo has been plagued by violence for decades from government forces and various armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed M23. (dpa) (aargauerzeitung.ch)