More than 100 artisanal miners have reportedly died following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic (CAR), prompting calls for stronger regulation and improved safety standards in mining.
Dele Alake, Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), described the incident as a tragedy and warned that Africa’s efforts to develop its mineral resources must not come at the cost of human lives.
In a statement issued on behalf of the AMSG, on Friday in Abuja, Alake expressed condolences to the government and people of the Central African Republic, particularly the families of those who died.
He said the disaster highlights the risks faced by people working in illegal and poorly regulated mining operations across the continent.
According to Alake, illegal mining deprives governments of revenue, damages the environment and facilitates the illicit movement of mineral resources. It also exposes miners to unsafe working conditions.
‘Behind every statistic about illegal mining are human beings,’ Alake said, noting that many artisanal miners are trying to earn a living, support their families and escape poverty.
He said no mineral resource is worth the loss of human life.
Alake called for a balanced approach to artisanal and small-scale mining, saying governments must enforce laws against illegal mining while creating legal and safer ways for miners to work.
He said the AMSG would continue to advocate stronger mining regulations, improved safety standards and the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining across Africa.
Formalisation would enable small-scale miners to operate legally, access safer working conditions and contribute to government revenue and local economies.
Alake also urged African countries to ensure that mineral resources create jobs and livelihoods rather than result in preventable deaths.
‘This tragedy must not become another statistic that we mourn today and forget tomorrow,’ he said.
He added that Africa’s mineral development must protect both its mineral resources and the people who depend on mining for their livelihoods.
‘We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action,’ Alake said.