A crowded bridge at a copper and cobalt mine in southeastern Congo gave way on Saturday, triggering a deadly disaster that officials say claimed dozens of lives. The collapse occurred at the Kalando site in Mulondo in Lualaba province, where authorities have long struggled to control the flow of unauthorized miners.
During a Sunday briefing, provincial interior minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde explained that the bridge failed under the weight of people who had forced their way into the restricted area. He noted that the mine had been closed because of persistent rain and the threat of landslides. “Despite the strict prohibition on accessing the site due to heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides, illegal diggers forced their way into the quarry,” Mayonde said.
A separate assessment released by Congo’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service, known as SAEMAPE, pointed to an eruption of gunfire by soldiers stationed at the mine. According to the agency, the shots caused miners to flee in panic toward the bridge, where the sudden rush left them trapped as it collapsed, leaving victims “piled on top of each other causing the deaths and injuries.” While Mayonde reported at least 32 deaths, the SAEMAPE document indicated the toll had risen to 40 or more.
The report also highlighted that the presence of soldiers at the site had been a source of persistent friction among informal miners, the cooperative assigned to structure operations, and the legally recognized operators who oversee the concession.
Congo dominates the global cobalt market, supplying most of the mineral essential for lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars and other technologies. Nearly 80 percent of production in the country is run by Chinese companies. Yet the sector has been repeatedly criticized for allegations of child labor, dangerous working conditions, and widespread corruption, AP reported.
Violence in mineral-rich eastern Congo continues to compound these challenges. Government forces and numerous armed groups have battled for control of territory for decades, including the Rwanda-backed M23, whose renewed offensive has deepened instability and intensified an already severe humanitarian crisis.
