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CAR Closes Gold Mine After Deadly Collapse
Confirmed
In Short: The Central African Republic's government has shut down a gold mine in Zamboye, which killed over 100 people, citing regulatory non-compliance.
Ruffin Benam Beltoungou, the minister of mines and geology, announced the closure of the Zamboye gold mine site in the western part of the country following the collapse that killed over 100 people.
He stated that the closure was due to 'non-compliance with mining standards and non-compliance with administrative directives,' as an investigation into the incident continues.
Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the civil society organization I Gwe, commented that it was 'obvious and quite natural' for the minister to take this decision, but noted that illegal gold miners were operating outside the legal framework.
The Khartoum Agreement, signed in February 2019 between the CAR government and numerous armed groups, provides context for the ongoing efforts to stabilize the region, though it is not directly related to the mine closure.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Ruffin Benam Beltoungou, the minister of mines and geology, announced the closure of the Zamboye site in the western part of the country.
- He cited “non-compliance with mining standards and non-compliance with administrative directives,” as an investigation into the collapse of the gold mine continues.
- “It is obvious and quite natural for the minister to take this decision, but the illegal gold miners were mining outside the legal framework,” Quentin Ngbouando, leader of the civil society organization, I Gwe, said.
- The Khartoum Agreement was signed in February 2019 between the CAR government and numerous armed groups.