By Fatima Saka
ABUJA — The African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has called for a stronger continental crackdown on illegal and unregulated mining following the reported death of more than 100 artisanal miners in a gold mine collapse in Zamboye, Central African Republic (CAR).
The group, in an emotional condolence message issued on Friday by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development and AMSG Chairman, Dr Dele Alake, described the incident as a “profound tragedy” and urged African governments to strengthen mining regulations and safety standards.
Alake, who spoke on behalf of the group, extended condolences to the government and people of CAR, as well as families of the victims.
“The reported deaths of more than 100 artisanal miners following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, in the Central African Republic, is a profound tragedy that should trouble the conscience of our continent,” he said.
“These were not just miners; they were our brothers, fathers, uncles, sons and, indeed, breadwinners.”
He said the disaster underscored the human cost of illegal and poorly regulated mining across Africa, warning that weak enforcement was exposing vulnerable miners to preventable dangers.
Alake noted that illegal mining not only deprives African countries of legitimate revenue and damages the environment but also facilitates illicit trafficking of mineral resources and places lives at grave risk.
“No mineral is valuable enough to justify the loss of a human life,” he said.
The AMSG chairman called for a balanced approach to artisanal and small-scale mining, combining firm action against criminal networks with measures to formalise and support legitimate miners.
He said governments must create pathways for artisanal miners to operate legally, safely and productively while enforcing laws against illegal mining.
According to him, AMSG will continue to advocate a continental approach that strengthens mining regulations, improves mine-safety standards, promotes responsible formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, and protects mining communities.
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“Africa’s mineral revolution must be a revolution that values both the mineral beneath our soil and the human life above it,” Alake said.
“We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action.”
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