Landslide Kills Artisanal Miners at Rebel-Controlled Site in Eastern DRC
At Least Seven Killed in Landslide at Rebel-Controlled Mining Site in North Kivu, DRC
At least seven people have been killed following a landslide at an artisanal mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by miners working in areas controlled by armed groups.
The latest incident occurred on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Gakombe mining site in Masisi Territory, located in North Kivu Province.
The site lies in a region currently under the control of the Congo River Alliance and the M23 Movement.
According to local sources, a sudden landslide buried several tunnels where artisanal miners were working and destroyed nearby homes.
Witnesses said miners who were inside underground shafts searching for ore were trapped when the ground collapsed.
Provisional Death Toll
Authorities and local residents have recovered at least seven bodies, though the toll could rise as several people remain missing.
Search and recovery operations are continuing, but efforts are complicated by insecurity in the region and the absence of formal oversight of mining activities.
Series of Mining Tragedies
The incident comes only days after another deadly landslide struck the Kasasa mining site in the Rubaya area on March 3, reportedly killing several hundred artisanal miners according to local accounts.
These repeated tragedies have drawn attention to the hazardous conditions under which many miners operate in eastern Congo.
Mining and Conflict Financing
Several mining sites in the region are controlled by the AFC-M23 rebel coalition, and mineral extraction is considered a major source of revenue for armed groups operating in eastern DRC.
Mining activities in these areas often occur outside the safety and regulatory standards set out in national mining laws, exposing workers to extreme risks including tunnel collapses and landslides.
Mineral Smuggling Concerns
Reports presented to the United Nations indicate that the exploitation and smuggling of minerals from eastern Congo generate significant income for armed groups.
These minerals frequently enter international supply chains through illicit trafficking networks, a persistent issue in global discussions about responsible mineral sourcing and traceability.
Analysts say preventing such recurring disasters will require restoring state authority over mining areas and strengthening regulation of artisanal mining operations across eastern Congo.
