More than 200 killed in Coltan mine collapse in East Congo

More than 200 people were killed this week in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rubaya produces around 15% of the world’s coltan, which is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal. The site, where locals dig manually for a few dollars per day, has been under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group since 2024. The collapse occurred on Wednesday, and the precise toll was still unclear as of Friday evening.

The United Nations says AFC/M23 has plundered Rubaya’s riches to help fund its insurgency, backed by the government of neighboring Rwanda, an allegation Kigali denies. The heavily-armed rebels, whose stated aim is to overthrow the government in Kinshasa and ensure the safety of the Congolese Tutsi minority, captured even more mineral-rich territory in eastern Congo during a lightning advance last year.