Mon Nov 17 00:54:04 UTC 2025: Summary:
A makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) when overcrowded with artisanal miners, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people. The miners reportedly rushed the bridge after soldiers fired shots, causing panic. The mine had been closed due to heavy rains and landslide risks, but the miners forced their way in. A dispute over the mine’s operation between wildcat miners, a cooperative, and legal operators with alleged Chinese involvement contributed to the situation. Authorities have suspended operations at the mine and a human rights group is calling for an investigation into the military’s role. The DRC is the world’s largest cobalt producer, facing persistent issues of unsafe conditions and exploitation in its mining industry.
News Article:
Bridge Collapse at DRC Cobalt Mine Kills Dozens Amidst Tensions
Lualaba Province, DRC – At least 32 people are confirmed dead after a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine in the southeastern Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday. The incident occurred when a large number of artisanal miners rushed to cross the bridge over a flooded trench.
According to Roy Kaumbe Mayonde, the province’s interior minister, the miners had defied a formal ban on accessing the site due to heavy rains and the risk of landslides. A report by the DRC’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE) indicated that gunfire from soldiers at the site sparked panic among the miners, causing them to surge towards the bridge.
“The miners rushing across the makeshift bridge, built to get across a flooded trench, made it collapse,” Mayonde said.
Reports suggest that the mine is at the center of a long-standing dispute between wildcat miners, a cooperative intended to organize digging operations, and the mine’s legal operators, who are said to have Chinese backing. Arthur Kabulo, a provincial coordinator for the National Human Rights Commission, noted that over 10,000 wildcat miners operate at the Kalando mine.
Provincial authorities have suspended operations at the mine following the tragedy. The Initiative for the Protection of Human Rights is calling for an independent investigation into the military’s role in the deaths, citing reports of clashes between miners and soldiers.
The DRC is the world’s leading producer of cobalt, a crucial mineral for electric vehicle batteries. The nation’s cobalt mining industry has been plagued by accusations of child labor, unsafe working conditions, and corruption. The country’s mineral wealth has also fueled conflict in its eastern regions for over three decades.
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