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Landslide at DR Congo’s Rubaya Coltan Mine Kills at Least 227

The M23-held operation feeds a crucial electronics supply chain under UN scrutiny for alleged rebel profiteering.

Overview

  • Officials report 227 bodies recovered and more than 30 injured since Wednesday’s collapse triggered by heavy rain.
  • Eyewitnesses reported a second slide on Thursday following the initial failure a day earlier.
  • Victims include artisanal miners, market traders, and children, with some survivors pulled from the debris.
  • Provincial authorities halted small-scale mining at the site and ordered nearby residents to relocate, according to the rebel-appointed administration.
  • The mine has been under M23 control since 2024; the UN alleges the group exploits minerals and receives Rwandan support, a claim Rwanda denies, and Rubaya is estimated to produce about 15% of the world’s coltan used for tantalum in electronics.