200 Killed After Landslide at DR Congo's Rebel-Held Mine
Last update: March 5, 2026
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Government blames M23 rebels for unsafe mining conditions after collapse at major coltan site in eastern DR Congo.
More than 200 people, including at least 70 children, have been killed after a landslide caused a collapse at a mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the government said.
The disaster struck Rubaya on Tuesday following heavy rains. The area is the country’s largest source of coltan, a mineral used in electronic devices, and is under the control of M23 rebels.
In a statement, the mines ministry blamed the tragedy on the rebels, accusing them of allowing illegal mining without proper safety standards.
The M23 has not commented on the allegations. However, a source in Rubaya claimed the collapse was triggered by attacks from government forces and said only six people had died. Authorities have not responded to that claim.
Rubaya, about 70 kilometres west of Goma in North Kivu province, is believed to hold about 15 percent of the world’s coltan supply and roughly half of DR Congo’s deposits.
Officials said rescue efforts were hampered by dangerous conditions and restrictions imposed by rebels, while the lack of oversight left miners without basic safety protections. Many injured people were evacuated to hospitals in Goma.
