The Central African Republic has temporarily halted operations at the Zamboye artisanal gold mine near the Cameroon border after a tragic landslide claimed the lives of at least 49 individuals.
The incident, which took place earlier this week at the open-pit site locally called Moscow-RCA, has an official death toll of 49. However, local sources suggest that the death toll may be closer to 100, with several miners still unaccounted for.
During a visit on Wednesday, Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou confirmed the current fatality figures. The Mines Ministry reported the victims as comprising 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians, and two Chadians. Seven injured survivors were transported to a hospital in Baboua, around 50 kilometers from the mine.
Unable to locate missing relatives due to treacherous conditions that have impeded recovery efforts, families have gathered at the site. One such family member, Roger Bana Nzala, stated that his brother’s body remains unrecovered.
On Thursday, access to the mine was restricted, and security was intensified around the location. Rescue efforts were discontinued because sections of the mine were still unstable and recent heavy rainfall had submerged parts of the pit. Security, including members from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, secured the area as authorities aimed to stabilize the situation.
This disaster has once again drawn attention to the safety issues within the Central African Republic’s artisanal mining sector. Civil society activist Crescent Beninga highlighted the recurrence of mine collapses, questioning whether adequate preventative measures had been enacted. His comments followed another deadly incident in June at the Be-Mbari gold mine near the Cameroonian border.
Located beside the Kadei River—which partially marks the border between the Central African Republic and Cameroon—Zamboye is a significant open-pit mining zone. Artisanal mining is crucial for many livelihoods in the region, yet it grapples with challenges such as insufficient regulation, poor safety standards, and illegal operations.
Following this latest tragedy, there will likely be increased pressure on authorities to enhance oversight and safety at informal mining locations. Yet, for families eagerly awaiting news on their missing loved ones, the immediate focus remains on recovering and identifying those trapped beneath the collapsed site.
