A deadly collapse at an artisanal gold mine in rebel-held eastern Congo has claimed the lives of at least 10 people, officials said Thursday, highlighting the deadly intersection of unsafe mining practices, ongoing conflict, and climate-driven disasters in the mineral-rich region.
The incident occurred late Wednesday at the Luhihi mine in Kabare territory. Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, the rebel-appointed vice-governor of South Kivu province, attributed the collapse to environmental causes.
“It was a natural disaster caused by climate change,” Bwenge told The Associated Press.
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The region, marked by steep terrain and poor infrastructure, is highly prone to landslides and floods. In 2023 alone, flash floods in neighboring Kalehe territory killed at least 400 people, another tragic chapter in a region beset by environmental and human-made disasters.
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Bwenge noted that, as an artisanal operation, the Luhihi mine lacked formal oversight. Safety regulations were ignored, and informal practices put miners at significant risk.
Because of these irregularities, he explained, the working conditions were particularly dangerous and vulnerable to disasters like this one.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, who served as South Kivu’s governor before the M23 rebel group seized control, also confirmed the mine collapse and said at least six people were confirmed dead. However, he added that more victims likely remain buried under the rubble. Bwenge later reported the death toll had risen to at least 10.
The Luhihi mine and surrounding territory, including the provincial capital Bukavu, are under the control of the M23 rebels, a Rwanda-backed group that has gained ground over the past year.
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M23’s influence surged in January when the group seized the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu province. The momentum continued in February with the capture of Bukavu, South Kivu’s capital.
M23 is one of approximately 100 armed factions operating in eastern Congo, where competition for control of valuable mineral resources has fueled decades of violence. The instability has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian disasters, displacing more than 7 million people across the region.
According to U.N. experts, M23 receives military support from roughly 4,000 Rwandan troops. The rebels have, at times, threatened to advance all the way to Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, located 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away.
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