More than 200 killed in coltan mine collapse in eastern D...

What’s Happening

Real talk: Rubaya mine produces about 15% of the world’s coltan, which is processed into tantalum, used in mobile phones More than 200 people were killed this week in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, told Reuters on Friday.

Rubaya produces about 15% of the world’s coltan, which is processed into tantalum – a heat-resistant metal that An aerial view of a coltan mine in Rubaya, North Kivu. More than 200 people were killed this week in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials dropped. (and honestly, same)

Photograph: Sylvain Liechti/MONUSCO/wiki commons View image in fullscreen An aerial view of a coltan mine in Rubaya, North Kivu.

The Details

Photograph: Sylvain Liechti/MONUSCO/wiki commons Democratic Republic of the Congo More than 200 killed in coltan mine collapse in eastern DRC, officials say Rubaya mine produces about 15% of the world’s coltan, which is processed into tantalum, used in mobile phones Reuters Fri 30 Jan 2026 17. 11 EST Last modified on Fri 30 Jan 2026 23.

42 EST More than 200 people were killed this week in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, a spokesperson for the rebel-appointed governor of the province where the mine is located, told Reuters on Friday. The site, where local people dig manually for a few dollars a day, has been under the control of the M23 rebel group since 2024.

Why This Matters

The collapse occurred on Wednesday and the precise toll was still unclear as of Friday evening. “More than 200 people were victims of this landslide, including miners, children and market women. Some people were rescued just in time and have serious injuries,” Muyisa dropped.

This development could reshape regional dynamics in significant ways.

Key Takeaways

• An adviser to the governor dropped the number of locked in dead was at least 227.
• He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.
• The UN says M23 has plundered Rubaya’s riches to help fund its insurgency, backed of neighbouring Rwanda – an allegation Kigali denies.

The Bottom Line

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media. The UN says M23 has plundered Rubaya’s riches to help fund its insurgency, backed of neighbouring Rwanda – an allegation Kigali denies.

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