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By Stella Odueme
The Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dele Alake, has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the collapse of the informal Al-Zaraa gold mine near Al-Nuhud town in West Kordofan, Sudan.
Alake, in a statement issued on Thursday, on behalf of the AMSG leadership and member states, extended heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones and communities of the artisanal miners who lost their lives in the tragedy.
He also sympathised with the people and authorities of Sudan, describing the incident as a devastating reminder of the dangers faced by informal and artisanal miners across Africa.
The statement by Dr. Dele Alake, Chairman, Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), said initial reports indicated that dozens of miners had died, while several others remained missing and feared trapped beneath the rubble.
According to the AMSG Chairman, the reported collapse of interconnected shafts in loose terrain highlights the extreme risks associated with unregulated mining operations, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas.
He acknowledged the importance of artisanal mining as an economic lifeline for communities facing conflict and economic hardship, but stressed that mining activities must not come at the expense of human life and safety.
Alake identified the absence of structural engineering standards, safety equipment and regulatory oversight as factors contributing to the vulnerability of informal mining workers.
He further expressed concern over the reported difficulties confronting rescue operations, noting that survivors and local responders were relying on rudimentary hand tools due to the lack of heavy excavation machinery.
The Africa Minerals Strategy Group called for the urgent mobilisation of regional and local resources to support rescue operations at the Al-Zaraa mine.
The group urged authorities and relevant stakeholders to deploy heavy lifting and excavation equipment to accelerate the search for trapped miners and provide medical assistance to survivors.
The AMSG also called on governments, regional bodies and industry stakeholders across Africa to accelerate the formalisation of artisanal and informal mining operations.
It urged greater cooperation in providing training, enforcing basic safety standards and strengthening institutional oversight to protect mining workers.
“Human life must always supersede resource extraction,” the statement said, stressing the need to protect vulnerable workers operating in conflict-affected and politically unstable regions from preventable structural hazards.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to advocating policies that promote the safe, sustainable and responsible mining, management and processing of Africa’s mineral resources.
It also expressed solidarity with the grieving families and communities in Kordofan, Sudan.