Mali gold mine collapsed, more than 70 people died on Friday but this news internationally reached yesterday to us. A Plethora of people have died in the West African nation of Mali after an informal gold mine collapsed last week, the country’s Ministry of Mines said on Wednesday, highlighting the risks that countless artisanal miners face in one of Africa’s largest gold-producing countries.
It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse last Friday or how many people had died at the site about 55 miles southwest of the capital, Bamako, according to a statement from the ministry. The death toll exceeded 70 people, according to The Associated Press, and as of Wednesday, emergency services workers were still looking for bodies, the ministry said.
“It started with a noise. The earth started to shake. There were over 200 gold miners in the field. The search is over now. We’ve found 73 bodies,” Oumar Sidibe, an official for gold miners in the southwestern town of Kangaba, told AFP, of the incident on Friday.
The same toll was confirmed by a local councillor.
Mali gold mine collapse, more than 70 people died in an accident
Several West African countries have experienced a new boom in informal mining, also known as artisanal mining, over the past two decades. It has provided a livelihood to thousands of people, fed trafficking routes and attracted armed groups. In northern Mali, for instance, Tuareg rebels and insurgents affiliated with Al Qaeda control mining sites.
A gold mine collapse in southwest Mali has killed more than 70 people, official says pic.twitter.com/fkHE9p30Ah
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In 2022, Mali produced more than 72 metric tons of gold, which represented a quarter of its national budget and 75 percent of its exporting revenues, the former minister of mines, Lamine Seydou Traoré, said last March. About six tons came from artisanal mining.
Gold has been a significant part of Mali’s economy for centuries, since Mansa Musa, the ruler of the ancient empire of Mali, travelled to Egypt with a caravan of tens of thousands of people in the 14th century, flooding local markets with so much gold that its value crumbled for more than a decade.
In recent years, the country has emerged as a major hub for smuggling artisanal West African gold to the United Arab Emirates.
All about Mali
Mali is a country located in West Africa. The capital city of Mali is Bamako, which is also the largest city and serves as the country’s political, cultural, and economic center Mali had a population of around 20 million people.
The official language is French, which was inherited from the colonial period when Mali was part of French West Africa. However, there are also several regional languages spoken.
The West African CFA franc (XOF) is the official currency of Mali.
Mali is predominantly a vast, landlocked country with a diverse geography that includes the Sahara Desert in the north and the Niger River in the south. It shares borders with seven other African countries: Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast to the south, Guinea to the southwest, Senegal and Mauritania to the west.
Mali has a rich historical background, with the ancient Mali Empire being one of the great medieval trading empires in West Africa. In more recent history, Mali gained independence from France in 1960.
Mali has a vibrant cultural heritage, with music, dance, and art playing significant roles. The country is known for its traditional music styles, and it has produced internationally acclaimed musicians.
Mali’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, which employs a significant portion of the population. The country is also a major producer of gold and has potential in other mineral resources.
Mali has faced challenges such as political instability, ethnic tensions, and issues related to security. In recent years, the country has dealt with conflicts involving extremist groups and a UN peacekeeping mission.