Gold mining resumes near Central African Republic border after deadly landslide
Gold mining has resumed on the Cameroonian side of the border with the Central African Republic, days after a landslide at a nearby artisanal mine in Zamboye killed more than 100 people, according to local officials and Red Cross volunteers.
Footage from the area shows miners carrying equipment through an open pit, panning for gold in a muddy river and operating machinery and water pumps.
The landslide occurred on the Central African side of the border, despite early reports placing the site in Cameroon due to the name Zamboye also being associated with neighbouring Garoua-Boulai.
Central African authorities have since ordered the mine closed over safety and regulatory concerns as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Mohamadou Bawe, chairman of a local gold miners' cooperative in Cameroon, said miners crossed the border to assist with rescue efforts after learning of the collapse.
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"This is the border; you can see it here - there's the wire-mesh fence, the Central African Republic, and the river, which forms a natural boundary," Bawe said.
He said miners on the Cameroonian side limit excavation depths and clear surrounding areas to reduce the risk of collapses. "Look at our depths on the Cameroon side; that means it really is two different worlds," he said.
Garoua-Boulai Mayor Adamou Abdon also stressed that the deadly collapse occurred inside the Central African Republic, saying similar place names on both sides of the border had caused confusion.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
