Tragedy in Congo: Gold Mine Collapse Kills 10 Amid Ongoing Conflict
At least 10 dead and several injured after a gold mine collapses in rebel-controlled South Kivu, as Congo’s conflict continues to fuel unsafe mining conditions.

- At least 10 people killed in a gold mine collapse
- Rebel-appointed governor blames poor construction
- Tragedy follows peace talks between Congo’s government and M23 rebels in Qatar
At least ten people lost their lives when a gold mine collapsed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Douglas Dunia Masumbuko, the South Kivu governor appointed by the M23 rebel group.
The incident occurred at the Luhihi mine, and authorities warn the death toll may rise due to numerous injuries.
Masumbuko attributed the disaster to unregulated construction and inadequate upkeep of mining shafts in the region. Accidents like this are common in Congo, particularly at informal artisanal mining operations.
This tragedy comes as a fragile sense of optimism emerges from peace talks in Qatar, where Congo’s government and M23 representatives agreed to pursue a path toward reconciliation.
Since January, M23 rebels have captured two of eastern Congo’s largest cities, intensifying a long-standing conflict rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and fueled by competition over Congo’s rich mineral deposits.
Jean-Jacques Purusi, the former governor ousted by M23 forces, confirmed the mine collapse but did not provide casualty figures.