A devastating mining accident has claimed the lives of at least 43 people, mostly women, after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Mali. The incident, which occurred on Saturday near the town of Kenieba in the gold-rich Kayes region, has once again highlighted the dangers faced by informal miners in the country.
According to Taoule Camara, Secretary General of the National Union of Gold Counters and Refineries (UCROM), the victims had entered abandoned open-pit mines left by industrial operators in search of residual gold when the ground suddenly gave way beneath them. The collapse buried dozens of miners alive, leaving the community in mourning.
Mali’s mines ministry confirmed the tragic event, stating that it happened between the towns of Kenieba and Dabia. However, officials have withheld further details, noting that assessment teams are still evaluating the scene and conducting rescue efforts.
This disaster is the latest in a string of fatal incidents linked to artisanal mining in Mali. In late January, a similar tragedy struck when a gold-digging tunnel flooded in the country’s southwest, killing 13 people, including women and three children.
Mali is Africa’s third-largest gold producer, and artisanal mining remains a significant source of income for thousands of people. However, the unregulated nature of the sector, coupled with poor safety measures, continues to expose miners to life-threatening risks.
As rescue operations continue, questions are being raised about the government’s role in ensuring the safety of artisanal miners and regulating abandoned mining sites to prevent further disasters.
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