Twelve artisanal miners have died in a mine collapse near Kolwezi, marking another tragic incident in the region that raises concerns about mining safety.
In a tragic incident near Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, twelve artisanal miners lost their lives when a section of the Tulizembe copper mine collapsed. This disaster occurred just two weeks after a similar collapse in the Rubaya coltan mine, pointing to ongoing safety challenges in artisanal mining operations across the country. The Tulizembe mine, which employs around 10,000 artisanal miners, has seen over twenty fatalities due to such incidents in the past two years alone, raising alarm about the dangers associated with this type of mining.
Local civil society organizations are calling for enhanced safety measures following this latest collapse. The miners involved in the incident reportedly entered the mine at night to extract copper ore, which underscores the perilous conditions under which these miners operate. The ongoing vulnerability of artisanal miners is exacerbated by the lack of regulatory oversight and the high demand for minerals in both local and international markets.
The implications of this tragedy extend beyond immediate safety concerns; they highlight the critical need for actionable policies to protect miners and improve working conditions. As such, understanding the systemic issues within the mining sector is essential for preventing future incidents and advocating for the rights and safety of artisanal miners in the DRC.
