At least 22 artisanal gold miners died in southern Mali on Saturday after a shaft they were working in collapsed.
The general secretary of the Miners’ Confederation, Taoule Camara revealed to the media that the miners had entered the site illicitly in the commune of Kalana and dug tunnels that later collapsed.
This tragedy follows a similar incident in January, where over 70 people died in an artisanal mine in southwest Mali.
Artisanal mining is a widespread activity across much of West Africa and has increased in recent years due to the growing demand for metals and rising prices.
However, deadly accidents are frequent as artisanal miners often use old-fashioned and unregulated digging methods.
