DRC to pursue legal action over illegal mining in Rubaya red zone

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo says it will pursue legal action against individuals and networks benefiting from illegal mining activities in the Rubaya area after a new landslide tragedy struck the conflict-affected mining zone in North Kivu.

According to authorities, the incident occurred on Saturday, March 7, 2026, when heavy rains triggered a landslide that engulfed tunnels at the Gakombe mining site, also known as Gatambi Kalambairo, located in the PE-16159 mining perimeter of the Sakima district in Rubaya, Masisi territory.

Officials reported that several people were killed, many others were injured and nearby homes were damaged in the village of Kalambairo. The government said that the insecurity of the region which it says remains under the influence of the AFC/M23 armed coalition has limited access to the site, making it difficult for independent actors to establish an exact casualty toll.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Kinshasa said the tragedy highlights the extreme dangers facing civilians working in unstable tunnels in an area where artisanal mining has continued despite security risks.

“The repetition of these tragic events once again highlights the extreme risks to which civilian populations are exposed in this mining area, particularly artisanal miners and children,” the government said.

Authorities reiterated that the Rubaya mining area has been officially classified as a “red zone,” meaning that extraction, processing and marketing of minerals from the site are formally prohibited under Congolese regulations.

The government argues that the continued exploitation of the mines constitutes a violation of national law and safety standards in a territory affected by armed conflict.

Kinshasa also accused the Rwandan-backed AFC/M23 coalition of organizing illegal mineral exploitation in the region to sustain what it described as a “war economy.”

Officials said legal measures are being prepared to bring before competent courts all actors who benefit, directly or indirectly, from the mining operations in the occupied zone. Authorities also indicated that efforts are underway to document human-rights violations and track illegal mineral trading networks originating from conflict-affected areas.

The Congolese government called on the international community to take note of the scale of the tragedy and the risks linked to the exploitation of natural resources in territories under armed occupation.

The latest landslide comes less than a month after another deadly collapse in the same mining region, which reportedly caused hundreds of deaths, intensifying concerns about safety conditions at artisanal mining sites.

Civil society organizations have also urged reforms. The Support Group for Traceability and Transparency in Natural Resource Management (GATT-RN) called for the formalization of artisanal mining activities to introduce stronger safety standards and worker protections.

The organization further recommended launching an independent investigation into the recurring disasters and strengthening mineral traceability and certification systems to combat smuggling linked to conflict-affected mining zones.