Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Minerals Strategy Group has mourned the deaths of more than 100 artisanal miners following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic, describing the disaster as a profound tragedy that should trouble the conscience of the continent. The collapse occurred on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time in the village of Zamboye, located in the western reaches of the CAR near the Cameroonian border. The artisanal mine caved in following a severe landslide, burying hundreds of workers under the rubble. Rescue operations have continued for days, with several people still reported missing or trapped. The disaster has renewed concerns about safety in the CAR's artisanal mining sector, where thousands depend on small-scale extraction despite weak regulation and inadequate safety measures.
Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the AMSG, issued an emotion-laden condolence message on behalf of the group on Friday, August 21, 2026. Alake extended his deepest condolences to the Government and people of the Central African Republic, and most especially to the families who have lost loved ones. "These were not just miners, they were our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons and indeed, breadwinners," Alake said. He stressed that the tragedy must compel African countries to confront an uncomfortable reality: illegal and unregulated mining is not only depriving governments of legitimate revenues and damaging the environment, but it is also putting the lives of people at grave risk. "This tragedy is again, a painful reminder that behind every statistic about illegal mining are human beings—young men and women trying to earn a living, support their families and escape poverty," he said.
The death toll from the Zamboye disaster has been subject to conflicting figures as rescue efforts continue. CAR Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou, who visited the site on Wednesday, confirmed 49 deaths, including 34 CAR nationals, 13 Cameroonians, and two Chadians. However, Cameroonian state media CRTV and other local outlets have put the death toll at over 100, with reports that 107 bodies had already been recovered from the debris. The Associated Press reported that more than 100 people had died, with hopes of finding survivors fading by Thursday. The local Red Cross confirmed that more than 10 bodies were recovered Thursday morning alone, with bodies being discovered every hour.
The Zamboye mining site is an informal gold mine located approximately 50 kilometers from the town of Baboua, near the border with Cameroon. Artisanal mine collapses are common in the CAR, where pits are frequently dug by hand and can reach several meters deep. Without adequate reinforcement, shifting ground can cause tunnels to collapse suddenly, burying miners within seconds. A 2025 report by U.N. experts documented illicit mining in the area, including the involvement of armed groups and the use of extraction methods that posed health and environmental risks. Researchers and local media had reported earlier in the year on unsafe and unregulated mining associated with a rapidly expanding gold rush around Zamboye. The CAR's small-scale gold mining sector has been booming for well over a decade, with many workers who were previously in the diamond business moving to gold.
Alake called on African governments to rise to the occasion and strongly fight against illegal mining while strengthening regulations to safeguard the lives of their citizens. "But we must note that no mineral is valuable enough to justify the loss of a human life," he declared. He urged a balanced approach to artisanal and small-scale mining, calling on governments to enforce laws against illegal mining and criminal networks while creating opportunities for artisanal miners to operate legally, safely and productively. The AMSG chairman said the group would continue to advocate a continental approach focused on stronger regulation, improved mine-safety standards and responsible formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining. "This tragedy must not become another statistic that we mourn today and forget tomorrow," Alake warned. "Africa's mineral revolution must be a revolution that values both the mineral beneath our soil and the human life above it. We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action".
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