At Least 12 Dead in Coltan Mine Collapse Amid Rebel-Controlled Eastern DR Congo

At least 12 miners have tragically lost their lives following the collapse of an artisanal coltan mine in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), officials confirmed on Friday.

The incident occurred Thursday near the town of Rubaya, though the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation.

Dozens of miners reportedly escaped the disaster by a narrow margin, according to local civil society sources and mining insiders. Rescue teams are still working under perilous and unstable conditions, hampering efforts to reach any survivors.

The Rubaya area is a vital artery in the global tech supply chain, renowned for its abundant coltan deposits—a mineral critical to manufacturing smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices.

Small-scale artisanal mining operations here supply roughly one-sixth of the world’s coltan, underscoring the region’s strategic economic importance.

Since mid-2024, the territory has been under the control of the M23 rebel group, which has imposed a controversial 15% tax on coltan production, according to rebel spokespeople.

This ongoing rebel dominance has exacerbated regional instability, raising serious concerns about miners’ safety and the exploitation of laborers amid precarious conditions.

Mine collapses remain a persistent threat within Congo’s largely informal mining sector, where safety regulations are often minimal or unenforced.

Human rights organizations and industry watchdogs have repeatedly called for stronger protections for workers and increased transparency throughout the mineral supply chain—especially in conflict zones like North Kivu.

This latest tragedy highlights the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to improve safety standards and end the exploitation endemic in eastern Congo’s artisanal mining industry.