Abuja: The African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has condemned the reported deaths of more than 100 artisanal miners following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic. The Chairman of AMSG, Mr. Dele Alake, made the condemnation on Friday in Abuja, describing the incident as a profound tragedy that should trouble the conscience of the African continent.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the incident occurred on Tuesday when an artisanal gold-mining site in Zamboye, Nana-Mamb©r© Prefecture, near the Cameroon border collapsed. Alake condoled the government and people of the Central African Republic, particularly families who lost loved ones in the disaster. He emphasized that the victims were not merely miners but brothers, fathers, uncles, sons, and breadwinners whose deaths had devastated their families and communities.
Alake stated, “On behalf of the AMSG, I extend my deepest condolences to the government and people of the Central African Republic, and to the families who have lost loved ones in this terrible disaster. We stand in solidarity with them at this moment of grief.” He further asserted that the tragedy should compel African countries to confront the dangers associated with illegal and unregulated mining activities across the continent.
He highlighted the adverse effects of illegal mining, noting that it deprives countries of legitimate revenues, damages the environment, and facilitates illicit trafficking of mineral resources. Alake added, “Illegal and unregulated mining is also putting the lives of our people at grave risk and robbing us of our virile men.”
The chairman emphasized that the incident served as a painful reminder that behind every statistic on illegal mining were individuals seeking livelihoods, supporting their families, and escaping poverty. He stressed that no mineral was valuable enough to justify the loss of human life and called for a balanced approach to artisanal and small-scale mining. “As Africans, we must approach artisanal and small-scale mining with both firmness and humanity,” he said.
Alake urged governments to enforce laws against illegal mining and criminal networks exploiting people and Africa’s mineral resources. He advocated for pathways that would enable artisanal miners to operate legally, safely, and productively. He affirmed that AMSG would continue to push for a continental approach to strengthening regulation and improving mine-safety standards while promoting responsible formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining.
He stated, “Africa’s mineral wealth should translate into decent livelihoods rather than preventable deaths. This tragedy must not become another statistic that we mourn today and forget tomorrow. 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.”
Alake concluded by affirming AMSG’s commitment to promoting responsible mining practices that would protect lives while ensuring that Africa benefits sustainably from its vast mineral resources. NAN reports that the AMSG comprises more than 30 African countries, represented by ministers responsible for minerals and mining, working together to promote common policies, local value addition, and responsible mineral development.