Story perspectives

Central African Republic suspends Zamboye gold mine after landslide

8/22/2026

Summary

CAR suspends mine

Central African Republic authorities suspended the Zamboye gold mine after a landslide killed over 100 people.
Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou confirmed 49 deaths: 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians, two Chadians.
Baboua prosecutor said the landslide was caused by the collapse of several underground tunnels.
Deputy mayor Souleymane Bi said rescuers pulled 30 bodies and kept searching for trapped miners.

Summary

Wagner Reinforces Mine

Heavy rains flooded the lower sections of the Zamboye (Moscow-RCA) open-pit mine, halting rescue operations.
Seven injured victims were taken to a hospital in Baboua.
Cameroon authorities said they are ready to receive and treat any injured people crossing the border.
Prosecutors opened an investigation to determine the collapse cause and identify the mine’s operators.
Wagner personnel were deployed to reinforce security around the Zamboye mine site.

History

Historical Context

In August 2010 a collapse at Chile’s San José copper-gold mine trapped 33 miners for 69 days, prompting a multinational rescue led by state-run Codelco and NASA. The 2024 Zamboye gold-mine landslide in the Central African Republic, which killed at least 49 miners, revived calls for stricter safety oversight across volatile, resource-rich regions.

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CAR suspends mine

Central African Republic authorities suspended the Zamboye gold mine after a landslide killed over 100 people.
Mines Minister Rufin Benam-Beltoungou confirmed 49 deaths: 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians, two Chadians.
Baboua prosecutor said the landslide was caused by the collapse of several underground tunnels.
Deputy mayor Souleymane Bi said rescuers pulled 30 bodies and kept searching for trapped miners.

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