AMSG Mourns Over 100 Miners Killed in Central African Republic Mine Collapse

The African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has expressed deep sorrow over the reported death of more than 100 artisanal miners following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic (CAR).

In a condolence message issued on Friday, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the AMSG, Dr Dele Alake, described the incident as a “profound tragedy” and extended condolences to the government and people of the Central African Republic, particularly families of the victims.

Alake said the victims were not merely miners but members of families who depended on them for their livelihoods.

“These were not just miners, they were our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons and indeed, breadwinners,” he said.

He added that the AMSG stood in solidarity with the affected families and the Central African Republic during the period of mourning.

Beyond expressing condolences, however, Alake called on African governments to take stronger action against illegal and unregulated mining and improve safety regulations across the continent.

According to him, illegal mining not only deprives countries of legitimate revenue, damages the environment and facilitates illicit mineral trafficking, but also exposes miners to life-threatening conditions.

“But we must note that no mineral is valuable enough to justify the loss of a human life,” he said.

The AMSG chairman stressed the need for African governments to balance enforcement with measures that would enable artisanal and small-scale miners to operate legally and safely.

“As Africans, we must therefore approach artisanal and small-scale mining with both firmness and humanity,” Alake said.

He called for stronger enforcement against illegal mining operations and criminal networks while advocating legal pathways that would allow artisanal miners to work under safer and more productive conditions.

Alake said the AMSG would continue to promote a continental approach focused on stronger regulation, improved mine-safety standards and the responsible formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining.

He also called for greater protection of mining communities and measures to ensure that Africa’s mineral resources create sustainable livelihoods rather than preventable deaths.

“This tragedy must not become another statistic that we mourn today and forget tomorrow,” he said.

“Africa’s mineral revolution must be a revolution that values both the mineral beneath our soil and the human life above it.”

He concluded: “We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action.”