Following the tragic death of more than 100 artisanal miners in a devastating gold-mine collapse in Zamboye, Central African Republic (CAR), the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has issued a continental call to action, demanding immediate reforms to end the human toll of unregulated mining operations.
In a statement in Abuja on Friday, AMSG chairman, Dr Dele Alake, described the incident as a profound tragedy that ‘Should trouble the conscience of our continent.’
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved, Alake emphasised that behind the alarming numbers are individuals whose absence leaves irreplaceable gaps in families and local communities.
‘These were not just miners. They were our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons, and indeed, breadwinners,’ Alake stated. ‘On behalf of the African Minerals Strategy Group, I extend my deepest condolences to the Government and people of the Central African Republic… We stand in solidarity with them at this moment of grief.’
While addressing the broader ramifications of informal extraction across the continent, the AMSG Chairman warned that illegal operations inflict far-reaching damage-robbing African states of critical revenue, causing severe environmental degradation, and fueling illicit trade networks.
However, he stressed that the loss of human capital remains the most destructive fallout of all.
‘This tragedy is again a painful reminder that behind every statistic about illegal mining are human beings-young men and women trying to earn a living, support their families and escape poverty,’ Alake noted, adding firmly: ‘No mineral is valuable enough to justify the loss of a human life.’
To prevent similar disasters in the future, the AMSG advocates a dual-track policy across member nations: clamping down on illicit networks while offering legitimate avenues for small-scale miners to transition into safer environments.