Abdelrahman
Over 40 individuals, predominantly women, tragically lost their lives when an illegal gold mine collapsed in Mali on Saturday. This devastating incident occurred near Kéniéba, situated in the rich gold-producing Kayes region of western Mali.
According to a leader from a gold miner’s union, the victims were searching for leftover gold scraps in open-pit areas abandoned by industrial miners when the ground beneath them collapsed. This marks Mali’s second fatal mining accident in just three weeks, following a previous incident in late January that claimed at least ten lives due to a flooding mining tunnel.
There are varying accounts regarding the number of fatalities from Saturday’s collapse. While a local police source reported that 48 individuals died, the head of an industry union provided a lower estimate of 43 victims. Among those lost, one woman was noted to have fallen into the water with her baby strapped to her back, as reported by the local police. According to other sources, rescue teams have managed to recover some of the bodies.
As one of the world’s largest gold producers, Mali faces persistent challenges related to mining safety. Accidents frequently occur due to the unregulated nature of mining activities, where miners often resort to dangerous methods in their quest for gold. Approximately a year ago, a similar tunnel collapse led to the deaths of at least 40 individuals.
In Mali, poverty drives many illegal miners, predominantly women, to scour abandoned sites for remnants of gold. A representative from the country’s mines ministry confirmed that the recent accident transpired between Kéniéba and Dabia but refrained from providing further details. Ministry teams are currently preparing a report at the accident site.
Reports indicate that the collapse took place at a site previously operated by a Chinese mining company. China has heavily invested in Mali’s mining sector, with governmental authorization. Given Mali’s abundance of natural resources—including gold, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium—it remains an enticement for Chinese investors.
While these investments have contributed to advancements in Mali’s infrastructure, particularly in transportation, they have also led the government to accrue substantial debt obligations to China, sparking concerns about its ability to manage this debt. Furthermore, Chinese mining operations have faced criticism for exacerbating environmental pollution within the nation.
Currently, Mali is involved in a dispute regarding revenue sharing with Barrick, one of the largest mining companies operating in the country. Last month, the government confiscated gold bars valued at $245 million from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, Mark Bristow. However, Mr. Bristow expressed optimism about resolving the conflict in a recent Bloomberg interview.
