Central African Republic Shuts Gold Mine After Landslide Kills 49

The Central African Republic has temporarily closed the Zamboye artisanal gold mine after a landslide killed at least 49 people near the Cameroon border. The confirmed victims include 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians and two Chadians, while local sources estimate the death toll could reach 100. Rescue efforts were suspended because of further collapses and flooding. The disaster follows a similar mine collapse at Be-Mbari in June that killed dozens, renewing concerns about poor safety standards and weak oversight of informal mining operations in the country.

Authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) have temporarily closed an artisanal gold mine near the border with Cameroon after a landslide killed at least 49 people earlier this week.
The Zamboye gold mine, located near the town of Baboua, was shut down on Thursday as security forces moved to prevent people from entering the unstable site.
The official death toll was announced after Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou visited the mine on Wednesday.

VICTIMS INCLUDE FOREIGN NATIONALS

According to the Mines Ministry, the 49 confirmed victims include 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians and two Chadians.
However, local sources told AFP that the actual number of people killed could be closer to 100, with many victims still missing and believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
Seven injured people were taken to a hospital in Baboua, about 50 kilometres from the mining site.

RESCUE OPERATIONS SUSPENDED

Rescue efforts have been suspended because the mine remains unstable.
Heavy rainfall has flooded parts of the lower sections of the open-pit mine, while further collapses have created additional risks for rescuers.
Security reinforcements have been deployed around the site, including personnel from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, according to reports.
An AFP correspondent who visited the area said access to the mine had been blocked and security personnel were guarding the site.

MINE COLLAPSE HIGHLIGHTS SAFETY PROBLEMS

The Mines Ministry said the disaster highlighted the dangers associated with informal mining operations, particularly sites where safety standards are poor.
The Zamboye site, also known locally as Moscow-RCA, is situated beside the Kadei River, which forms part of the border between the Central African Republic and Cameroon.
Videos reviewed by AFP showed sections of the mine wall collapsing and burying artisanal miners working below.

RELATED MINE COLLAPSE KILLED DOZENS IN JUNE

The latest tragedy is not an isolated incident.
In June, dozens of people were killed in a similar collapse at the Be-Mbari gold mine, also located near the Cameroonian border.
Civil society activist Crescent Beninga said repeated mine collapses showed that little had been done to improve safety.
He questioned why authorities had failed to prevent another disaster despite the earlier incident.

INFORMAL MINING REMAINS A MAJOR RISK

Mine collapses are a recurring danger in the Central African Republic, one of the world's poorer countries despite its significant deposits of gold and other minerals.
Many mining activities take place outside formal regulatory structures, leaving workers exposed to dangerous pits, unstable walls, flooding and inadequate emergency services.
The government now faces pressure to strengthen oversight of artisanal mining and improve safety standards before more lives are lost.
For families still waiting for news of missing miners, however, the immediate priority remains determining how many people were trapped and recovering those who may still be buried beneath the collapsed mine.