BAMAKO, MALI — A gold mine collapsed in eastern Mali, killing dozens and injuring many more, according to Malian television and Kéniéba district officials. It is the second major accident this year in the French-speaking West African nation, which is one of Africa’s top three gold producers.
Late on Saturday, Malian television reported that the site at Bilali Koto in the Dabia commune had collapsed, killing 42 people and injuring many more.
The prefect of Kéniéba, who represents the government in the area, confirmed the incident. “The death toll of 42 should be definitive,” Mohamed Dicko told The Associated Press on Sunday.
“The accident occurred yesterday, Saturday. “It was a landslide at a site run by Chinese nationals,” community leader Falaye Sissoko stated. Dicko said authorities were still investigating whether the mine was operating legally.
This is the second time in less than a month that such an accident has happened in Mali. On January 29, a landslide in the Koulikoro region of the country’s south killed several gold miners, the majority of them women.
In January of last year, an unregulated gold mine near Bamako collapsed, killing over 70 people.
In recent years, there have been concerns that profits from unregulated mining in northern Mali may benefit extremists operating in that region.
According to the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, gold is Mali’s most important export, accounting for more than 80% of total exports in 2021. According to the report, the mining sector employs over 2 million people, or more than 10% of Mali’s population.
Artisanal gold mining is estimated to produce approximately 30 tons of gold per year, accounting for 6% of Mali’s total gold production.
