Rubaya landslide kills at least 9 miners in Masisi territory amid renewed safety

Rubaya, March 28, 2026 - At least nine artisanal miners have been killed and 12 others injured following a landslide at the Gasasa mining site in Rubaya, located in Masisi territory in North Kivu province.

The accident occurred on Friday when two mining shafts collapsed as workers descended underground to extract coltan. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, according to local sources.

Rescue efforts were severely hindered by unstable ground conditions and a lack of adequate equipment, highlighting persistent safety challenges in the region’s artisanal mining sector.

The Rubaya mining area, one of the most significant coltan-producing zones in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently under the control of the AFC/M23 armed group. In this context, mining activities continue largely without formal regulation, increasing risks for workers operating in informal and hazardous conditions.

Authorities and local actors say such incidents have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks, with multiple collapses reported across mining sites in Rubaya and surrounding areas of Masisi and Walikale territories.

Civil society organizations have renewed calls for stronger oversight of artisanal mining operations and improved safety standards, particularly in zones affected by armed conflict and limited state presence.

Families of victims continue to mourn in a region where the economic importance of mineral resources contrasts sharply with the dangerous working conditions faced by miners.