Over 70 people lost their lives in the collapse of an artisanal gold mine in the Kangaba district of Mali, as confirmed by Karim Berthé, a senior official at Mali’s National Geology and Mining Directorate.
The incident occurred on Friday, January 19, 2024, in the southwestern Koulikoro region, a key area in Mali’s artisanal gold mining industry.
Oumar Sidibe, a representative for gold miners in Kangaba, southwest Mali, recounted the tragic event. Initially, there was a distinct sound followed by the ground shaking. At that time, the mining field had over 200 workers present. After the search concluded, the grim reality was that 73 bodies were recovered from the site.
Mali, Africa’s third-largest gold producer, is heavily reliant on artisanal mining, an informal, unregulated, and small-scale form of mining.
Such mining practices often lack proper safety measures, especially in remote regions, contributing to the frequency of such devastating accidents. Berthé stressed the urgency of government intervention to regulate this sector to prevent future tragedies.
Mali’s Ministry of Mines issued a statement in response to the collapse, expressing deep regret and urging miners and nearby communities to strictly adhere to safety guidelines.
The statement, as relayed by Baye Coulibaly, a spokesperson for the ministry, highlighted the recurring issue of non-compliance with safety standards among gold panners. Coulibaly noted the ministry’s previous unsuccessful attempts to discourage unsafe mining practices.
The economic impact of gold mining in Mali is profound, with the sector accounting for over 80% of the nation’s total exports in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
More than 10% of Mali’s population, equivalent to over two million people, depends on the mining sector for income.
Despite its risks, artisanal mining is estimated to produce about 30 tons (approximately 66,000 pounds) of gold annually, representing 6% of Mali’s total gold production.
Mali’s gold reserves are substantial, with estimates of around 800 tons in deposits. The country has approximately two million miners across 300 artisanal mining sites.
