At least 200 people are feared dead following multiple landslides at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to government estimates, as rescue efforts remain severely limited by ongoing conflict in the area.
Foreign media reported from Kinshasa on February 2 that a major landslide struck the mine in North Kivu province last Wednesday, followed by another collapse on Thursday. Authorities said access to the site is restricted because the area is under the control of armed groups, making it difficult to confirm the exact number of casualties.
The Rubaya mine is one of the world’s most important sources of coltan, a mineral essential for the production of electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops, supplying an estimated 15–30% of global demand.
The mine has become a strategic flashpoint in the conflict between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group, which seized control of the area in April 2024. The group is believed to have generated significant revenue by taxing mineral extraction, with much of the coltan reportedly exported through neighboring Rwanda.
