Alake Calls for Safer Mining After Zamboye Tragedy

Dele Alake, the Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), addressed the tragic deaths of more than 100 artisanal miners following a collapse at a gold-mining site in Zamboye, Central African Republic. In a statement issued on Friday, Alake described the incident as a "profound tragedy" and extended condolences to the government and families affected.

He emphasized that the victims were not just statistics but individuals with families who depended on them. Alake criticized illegal and unregulated mining practices, which not only deprive African nations of legitimate revenues but also expose miners to significant dangers.

He called for African governments to enforce laws against illegal mining while creating opportunities for artisanal miners to operate safely and legally. Alake reiterated that Africa's mineral resources should translate into decent livelihoods rather than preventable deaths, urging that the tragedy in Zamboye should lead to actionable change rather than being forgotten.