Bangui, Central African Republic – On Saturday, the Ministry of Mines and Geology announced the permanent shutdown of the Zamboye gold mining site in the country’s western region. Minister Ruffin Benam Beltoungou said the decision was forced by the mine’s failure to meet required mining standards and to follow administrative directives.
Collapse and casualties
Earlier this week, the Zamboye shaft gave way, trapping workers underground. Rescue teams recovered more than 100 bodies and reported additional injuries among survivors. The tragedy underscores the high risk faced by many Central Africans who rely on small‑scale, informal mining for their livelihoods.
Illegal mining and regulatory gaps
Although the Zamboye site had been officially closed prior to the accident, illegal miners continued to extract gold outside the legal framework. Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the civil‑society group I Gwe, noted that the presence of illegal miners made the minister’s decision “obvious and quite natural.”
Weak enforcement of mining regulations has long been a challenge in the Central African Republic. Limited state capacity, insufficient equipment, and a lack of trained personnel often leave rescue and safety operations under‑resourced, hampering efforts to prevent or mitigate disasters.
Government response
Minister Beltoungou pledged a thorough investigation into the collapse and affirmed that the government will pursue stricter compliance with mining standards. He emphasized that future operations must obtain proper permits and adhere to safety protocols before any work can resume.
Local authorities have also called for increased training and better equipment for rescue teams, acknowledging that the current lack of expertise contributed to the difficulty of locating survivors.
Broader context
The Zamboye incident adds to a growing list of mining accidents in the region, where artisanal and small‑scale extraction remains a major source of income for many families. While the sector provides essential economic support, the absence of robust oversight continues to expose workers to dangerous conditions.
International partners and NGOs have previously urged the Central African Republic to strengthen its mining legislation and improve enforcement mechanisms. The recent shutdown may signal a shift toward more decisive action against illegal operations, though sustained effort will be required to protect miners and their families.
Looking ahead
As the investigation proceeds, officials say they will assess whether additional sites need to be closed and what reforms are necessary to bring the mining industry into compliance with national and international safety standards. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked extraction and the importance of upholding the rule of law in resource‑rich nations.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
