Congo Mine Disaster: Families Mourn 200 Dead, Survivors Return to Hazardous Pits

• A deadly landslide at a rebel-held coltan mine in eastern Congo killed at least 200 people, devastating families in Goma and surrounding areas.
• Survivors, like Tumaini Munguiko, express grief but feel compelled to return to the dangerous Rubaya mine due to lack of alternative income in the conflict-ridden region.
• The Rubaya mining complex, 40 km from Goma, features hand-dug, unreinforced tunnels, leading to frequent collapses, especially during the rainy season.
• The mine, controlled by M23 rebels backed by Rwanda, produces coltan, a vital mineral for electronics, making the area strategically important and highly contested.
• Poor infrastructure and ongoing conflict isolate Rubaya, hindering communication and aid, while political blame games overshadow the plight of victims and survivors.

Why It Matters: Families mourn 200 dead in Congo mine disaster, but survivors face the grim reality of returning to dangerous pits.