Over 70 individuals perished in a disaster at an artisanal gold mine in the Kangaba district of Mali. This was confirmed by Karim Berthé, a high-ranking official of Mali’s National Geology and Mining Directorate.
The event took place on Friday, January 19, 2024, in the southwestern Koulikoro region, a significant location for Mali’s artisanal gold mining sector.
Oumar Sidibe, a spokesperson for gold miners in southwest Mali’s Kangaba, detailed the unfortunate event. Initially, a unique sound was heard, followed by ground tremors. At that moment, more than 200 workers were on site. After the rescue operation concluded, a total of 73 bodies were retrieved from the scene.
Mali, which is Africa’s third-largest gold producer, heavily depends on artisanal mining, a small-scale, unregulated, and informal mining practice.
These mining methods often fail to implement adequate safety precautions, particularly in remote areas, leading to such devastating incidents. Berthé emphasized the need for government regulation in this sector to prevent further disasters.
In response to the mine collapse, Mali’s Ministry of Mines issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow and appealing to miners and local communities to strictly follow safety rules.
Baye Coulibaly, a spokesperson for the ministry, relayed the statement which accentuated the ongoing issue of non-adherence to safety protocols among gold miners. Coulibaly pointed out the ministry’s past unsuccessful efforts to deter unsafe mining activities.
Gold mining has a substantial economic impact on Mali, with the industry representing over 80% of the country’s total exports in 2021, as cited by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
Across 300 artisanal mining sites, more than two million people, who constitute over 10% of Mali’s population, rely on the mining sector for their livelihood.
Despite its inherent risks, artisanal mining is projected to yield approximately 30 tons (or roughly 66,000 pounds) of gold each year, accounting for 6% of Mali’s total gold production.
Mali boasts significant gold reserves, with an estimated 800 tons in deposits.
