At least 200 people have died after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this week. The mine has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since 2024.
Miners and local residents described the sudden disaster. “It rained, a landslide followed, and it swept people away. Some were swallowed up, others died in the wells. Many are still trapped inside,” said miner Franck Bolingo.
A spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu province, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, reported that the victims include miners, children, and market vendors. At least 20 injured individuals are receiving treatment, with some being transferred to Goma, approximately 50 kilometres away.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and officials warn that the death toll could rise. Muyisa said the governor has temporarily suspended artisanal mining at the site and ordered the relocation of residents living near the mine.
Rubaya produces roughly 15 percent of the world’s coltan, a mineral used in electronics such as smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines. The United Nations has previously reported that M23 exploits the mine to fund its insurgency.
The Rubaya mine is located in eastern DRC, a region long affected by armed conflict between government forces and various militia groups. Since re-emerging in 2021, M23 has captured significant portions of the area.
Efforts to resolve the conflict, including a U.S.-brokered agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan governments and ongoing negotiations with the rebels, have yet to halt fighting in the region.
