By Martha Agas
The African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has condemned the reported deaths of more than 100 artisanal miners following the collapse of a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic.
The Chairman of AMSG, Mr Dele Alake made the condemnation on Friday in Abuja.
Alake described the incident as a profound tragedy that should trouble the conscience of the African continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday when an artisanal gold-mining site in Zamboye, Nana-Mambéré Prefecture, near the Cameroon border collapsed.
Alake condoled the government and people of the Central African Republic, particularly families who lost loved ones in the disaster.
He said the victims were not merely miners but brothers, fathers, uncles, sons and breadwinners whose deaths had devastated their families and communities.
“On behalf of the AMSG, I extend my deepest condolences to the government and people of the Central African Republic, and to the families who have lost loved ones in this terrible disaster.
“We stand in solidarity with them at this moment of grief,” he said.
The chairman said the tragedy should compel African countries to confront the dangers associated with illegal and unregulated mining activities across the continent.
According to him, illegal mining deprives countries of legitimate revenues, damages the environment and facilitates illicit trafficking of mineral resources.
“Illegal and unregulated mining is also putting the lives of our people at grave risk and robbing us of our virile men,” he said.
Alake said the incident was a painful reminder that behind every statistic on illegal mining were people seeking livelihoods, supporting their families and escaping poverty.
He said that no mineral was valuable enough to justify the loss of human life, while calling for a balanced approach to artisanal and small-scale mining.
“As Africans, we must approach artisanal and small-scale mining with both firmness and humanity,” he said.
He urged governments to enforce laws against illegal mining and criminal networks exploiting people and Africa’s mineral resources, and called for pathways that would enable artisanal miners to operate legally, safely and productively.
Alake said AMSG would continue to advocate a continental approach to strengthening regulation and improving mine-safety standards alongside promoting responsible formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining.
According to him, Africa’s mineral wealth should translate into decent livelihoods rather than preventable deaths.
“This tragedy must not become another statistic that we mourn today and forget tomorrow.
“Africa’s mineral revolution must be a revolution that values both the mineral beneath our soil and the human life above it.
“We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action,” he said.
He said AMSG remained committed to promoting responsible mining practices that would protect lives, while ensuring that Africa benefits sustainably from its vast mineral resources.
NAN reports that the AMSG comprises of more than 30 African countries, represented by ministers responsible for minerals and mining.
The ministers work together to promote common policies, local value addition and responsible mineral development.(NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman