Incident Details
A gold mine collapse in eastern 's Kéniéba district resulted in a preliminary death toll of 42, with many others injured. The incident occurred at a site in Bilali Koto, operated by Chinese nationals.
Authorities are investigating the legality of the mine's operations. This disaster marks the second major mining accident in Mali within a month, following a landslide in the that killed several miners, mostly women.
Broader Context and Concerns
Mali, one of 's top three gold producers, faces frequent mining accidents, especially in unregulated artisanal mines. Gold constitutes over 80% of Mali's exports, with more than 2 million people relying on the mining sector for income.
There are growing concerns that profits from unregulated mining could fund extremist activities in . Recent accidents have heightened pressure on authorities to regulate mining activities and prevent such tragedies.