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More than 200 radical were killed this week successful a illness astatine the Rubaya coltan mine successful eastbound Democratic Republic of Congo, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed Governor of the state wherever the excavation is located, told Reuters on Friday (January 30, 2026).
Rubaya produces astir 15% of the world's coltan, which is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metallic that is successful precocious request by makers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components and state turbines. The site, wherever locals dig manually for a fewer dollars per day, has been nether the power of the AFC/M23 rebel radical since 2024.
The collapse occurred connected Wednesday (January 28) and the precise toll was inactive unclear arsenic of Friday (January 30) evening.
"More than 200 radical were victims of this landslide, including miners, children and marketplace women. Some radical were rescued conscionable successful time and person superior injuries," Muyisa said, adding that astir 20 injured radical were being treated successful wellness facilities.
"We are successful the rainy season. The crushed is fragile. It was the ground that gave mode portion the victims were successful the hole."
An advisor to the Governor said the fig of confirmed dormant was astatine slightest 227. He spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that helium was not authorised to little the media.
The United Nations says AFC/M23 has plundered Rubaya's riches to help money its insurgency, backed by the authorities of neighbouring Rwanda, an allegation Kigali denies.
The heavily-armed rebels, whose stated purpose is to overthrow the authorities successful Kinshasa and guarantee the information of the Congolese Tutsi minority, captured adjacent much mineral-rich territory successful eastbound Congo during a lightning beforehand past year.
