A catastrophic accident at an illegal gold mine near Kenieba in Mali’s gold-abundant Kayes region has resulted in the deaths of more than 40 individuals, predominantly women, on Saturday. The collapse occurred in an open-pit area previously mined by industrial operations, where locals were scavenging for gold remnants when the surrounding earth gave way.
This marks Mali’s second fatal mining incident within three weeks, following the deaths of at least 10 miners in a flooded tunnel in late January. Reports on the exact casualty count vary, with a local police source informing AFP that 48 people perished, while a gold miners’ union leader reported 43 deaths to Reuters. Among the victims was a woman carrying her baby, both of whom fell into water during the collapse, according to the police source.
Rescue teams have managed to recover the bodies, as confirmed by local sources to the BBC. Mali, one of the world’s leading gold producers, frequently witnesses such tragedies due to the unregulated nature of much of its mining activities, where unsafe practices are commonplace. Just over a year ago, a similar tunnel collapse claimed at least 40 lives, highlighting the persistent dangers in the sector.
Poverty drives many, especially women, to risk their lives searching for gold at abandoned sites. The recent collapse occurred at a location once operated by a Chinese company, underscoring the significant involvement of Chinese investments in Mali’s mining industry, which also includes resources like iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium.
While these investments have bolstered infrastructure development, particularly in transportation, they have raised concerns over Mali’s growing debt to China and the environmental impact of mining activities. A spokesperson from Mali’s mines ministry confirmed the incident occurred between Kéniéba and Dabia but withheld further details, noting that ministry teams are compiling a report at the site.
Mali is also embroiled in a financial dispute with Barrick, a major Canadian mining company, over revenue sharing. Last month, the government seized gold bars valued at $245 million from Barrick and issued an arrest warrant for its CEO, Mark Bristow, who expressed confidence in resolving the conflict in a recent interview with Bloomberg
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