Congo: At least 200 killed in landslide in rebel-held province; govt blames M23 group

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s authorities said connected Sunday it feared “at slightest 200 people” had been killed successful a “massive” landslide astatine a militia-controlled excavation successful the country’s eastbound earlier this week.The announcement followed a connection by rebel authorities, who besides enactment the decease toll astatine a minimum of 200.The illness occurred connected Wednesday astatine the Rubaya mines, controlled by M23 rebels, according to Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesperson for the rebel-appointed politician of North Kivu province. He attributed the landslide to dense rainfall.“So far, much than 200 radical are feared dead, immoderate of whose bodies stay trapped successful the mud and person yet to beryllium recovered.

Several others were injured and taken to 3 wellness facilities successful Rubaya, portion ambulances were expected to transportation the wounded to Goma,” Muyisa said, referring to the nearest metropolis astir 50 kilometres (30 miles) away.The rebel-appointed politician of North Kivu has temporarily suspended artisanal mining astatine the tract and ordered the relocation of residents who had built shelters adjacent the mine, the spokesperson added.

In a connection posted connected X, the Congolese authorities expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and accused the rebels of illegally and dangerously exploiting the region’s earthy resources.Rubaya lies successful eastbound Congo, a mineral-rich portion that has been ravaged for decades by unit involving authorities forces and aggregate equipped groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23. The group’s caller resurgence has escalated the conflict, deepening an already terrible humanitarian crisis.Congo is simply a large planetary supplier of coltan, a achromatic metallic ore containing tantalum, which is utilized successful the manufacture of smartphones, computers and craft engines. The state accounted for astir 40% of planetary coltan accumulation successful 2023, according to the US Geological Survey, with Australia, Canada and Brazil among different starring producers. More than 15% of the world’s tantalum proviso comes from Rubaya’s mines.M23 seized the municipality and its mines successful May 2024. A UN study said the radical has since imposed taxes connected the commercialized and transport of coltan, generating astatine slightest $800,000 a month.Eastern Congo has faced recurring crises for decades, resulting successful 1 of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies. More than 7 cardinal radical person been displaced, including implicit 300,000 who person fled their homes since December past year.Despite a US-brokered statement betwixt the Congolese and Rwandan governments and ongoing talks involving the rebels, warring continues connected respective fronts, causing further civilian and subject casualties. The woody besides grants the US authorities and American companies greater entree to captious minerals.(With bureau inputs)