BANGUI, Central African Republic — The Central African Republic government announced on Saturday the closure of the Zamboye gold mining site following its collapse earlier in the week, which resulted in over 100 fatalities. Minister of Mines and Geology Ruffin Benam Beltoungou stated the decision was due to violations of mining regulations and administrative protocols as investigations continue.
The Zamboye site, located in western CAR, was already closed prior to the incident, but illegal miners remained active there. The disaster underscores ongoing challenges in the country’s mining sector, where weak regulation and unsafe practices often lead to such tragedies, particularly in small-scale operations that many depend on for their livelihoods.
The collapse also injured several individuals, and rescue efforts were complicated by insufficient expertise and equipment to manage the scale of the emergency.
“It is natural for the minister to act decisively, yet these miners operate outside the legal framework,” said Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the I Gwe civil society organization.
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