By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, has demanded justice and sweeping reforms in mining practices following a catastrophic mine collapse in Rubaya, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, that claimed the lives of more than 400 workers.

The organisation described the incident, which occurred on January 28, 2026, as one disaster too many, warning that the continued neglect of safety standards, rampant exploitation and unchecked profiteering in Africa’s extractive sector were turning mines into mass graves for workers.

In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa expressed “its profound grief following the catastrophic mine collapse at Rubaya, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on 28 January 2026, which has claimed over 400 lives.

“This is not merely a tragedy. It is a preventable massacre of workers, driven by greed, exploitation, and total disregard for human life and dignity.

“In unwavering solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones in this horrific disaster,” as well as with the mining communities of Rubaya who, it noted, are forced to live and work in conditions of extreme danger.

The organisation also expressed solidarity with trade union comrades in the DRC and workers across Africa’s extractive industries facing similar exploitation.

Condemning the circumstances that led to the collapse, ITUC-Africa said “decades of poor mining practices and the deliberate neglect of safety standards created the conditions for this disaster,” adding that artisanal miners were “brutally exploited” and compelled to work in hand-dug tunnels “without basic safety protections or oversight.”

The organisation further decried “the profiteering from coltan extraction while workers labour in deadly conditions,” the involvement of armed groups that “extort and control mining operations while workers die underground,” and international supply chains that continue to benefit from minerals “extracted at the cost of African lives.”

According to ITUC-Africa, the tragedy exposes the harsh reality of resource extraction on the continent. “Our continent’s wealth is extracted while our workers die in conditions that would be unthinkable elsewhere. The global economy cannot continue to be built on the graves of African workers,” the statement read.

The organisation demanded “an immediate, independent investigation into the collapse and full accountability for all those responsible,” as well as emergency assistance and comprehensive compensation for victims’ families. It also called for the urgent enforcement of safety standards, regular inspections of mining sites, an end to armed group control of mining operations, and full recognition of miners’ rights to organise and bargain collectively.

ITUC-Africa also urged international electronics and technology companies to take “concrete action” to ensure their supply chains are free from exploitation, violence and unsafe labour.

“Workers’ lives are not expendable. Every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the working day. Every miner has the right to conditions that protect their life and health,” the organisation stressed.
ITUC-Africa called on the Government of the DRC, the African Union, international organisations and global supply-chain actors to take immediate steps to prevent future tragedies and ensure that mining activities in Africa respect workers’ rights and human dignity.