A Landslide at The Artisanal Mine in Kakanda Has Left Around a Dozen People Dead, Including a Child, And Has Highlighted Safety Concerns

A serious landslide occurred on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, at the Safi mining site in Kakanda, in Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The incident, which took place in an artisanal mining area, resulted in significant loss of life among artisanal miners.

Available information indicates that the landslide occurred early in the morning in a pit frequently used by artisanal miners. Initial assessments suggest that the incident may be linked to the instability of the backfill and the weakening of the ground following several days of heavy rainfall.

The figures currently available vary depending on the sources consulted, but they all point to a heavy human toll. Several deaths and at least one injury have been reported, while search operations continued in the hours and days following the tragedy. Among the bodies recovered was that of a child estimated to be around 12 or 13 years old.

“The death of this child is a painful reminder of the human cost of this tragedy. No child should lose their life in such circumstances, and this situation reinforces the urgency of improving safety, protection and supervision around these high-risk sites,” said Patrick Nshimba, World Vision’s Cluster Manager in Likasi.

Technical findings carried out after the incident highlight several risk factors that may have contributed to the landslide, including the excessive height of the benches, the sandy-clay nature of the soil, the very steep slope angles and the absence of an adequate water drainage system. These elements point to serious shortcomings in the technical oversight and safety management of artisanal mining activities at the site.

The incident also raises serious concerns regarding the operating arrangements on the concession. Available information indicates that artisanal mining activities were tolerated in certain areas within a poorly regulated framework, raising questions about the legality of these practices, their effective supervision and the protection of people working in a high-risk environment.

Following the tragedy, several recommendations have reportedly been put forward, including the immediate suspension of artisanal mining activities in the affected area, an urgent technical assessment of unstable sections of the quarry and the strengthening of site safety measures. Calls have also been made for the withdrawal of military personnel present at the site and their replacement by the competent services of the Mining and Hydrocarbons Police.

The tragedy has deeply affected surrounding communities, particularly neighbourhoods inhabited by artisanal miners, where many signs of mourning have been observed. Information gathered also suggests that, in the absence of an immediately visible structured response, the search efforts, identification of victims and organisation of funerals were largely handled by the families and communities themselves.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the extreme risks associated with poorly regulated artisanal mining and highlights the urgent need to strengthen safety measures, technical oversight and accountability mechanisms in order to better protect vulnerable workers and neighbouring communities.