“Among the victims of the landslide are not only miners but also children and market vendors,” noted Muisa. He also reported that some people were rescued but with serious injuries; however, details were not disclosed. The governor's advisor confirmed that the death toll is at least 227, and efforts to clarify the number continue.
The collapse occurred at the Rubaya mine, where coltan is extracted, a metallic ore that accounts for about 15% of the total global production of this material. Coltan is used to produce tantalum—a heat-resistant metal in demand in mobile electronics, computers, the aerospace industry, and gas turbines.
Since 2024, the mine has been under the control of the M23 rebel group ("March 23 Movement"), which is actively operating in the region. The United Nations accuses M23 of using revenues from mineral extraction to finance a rebellion supported by Rwanda, which is denied by Kigali.
