WiM-Africa mourns Mali mining tragedy, calls for urgent reforms

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) has expressed shock over the recent tragic artisanal mine collapse near Kéniéba in Mali’s Kayes region last week.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of WiM-Africa, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, in Abuja.

The statement described the incident as a devastating reminder of the grave risks faced by artisanal miners, particularly women, in the absence of alternative livelihoods and proper oversight of mining activities.

“Women in artisanal mining are among the most vulnerable. They work under unsafe conditions, with little to no economic alternatives, while facing constant exploitation by informal gold buyers and middlemen,” Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji stressed.

The statement emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms in artisanal mining across Africa.

“Women, who form a significant portion of the workforce, are disproportionately affected by unsafe mining conditions and economic exploitation.”

According to the statement, WiM-Africa calls for greater accountability in the artisanal mining value chain, adding that women are forced to sell their gold through informal and exploitative networks, receiving unfair prices while working under hazardous conditions.

The statement calls on governments to put in place measures to prevent future occurrences.

“To prevent future tragedies, urgent measures must be taken by governments and stakeholders to register and monitor all artisanal mining sites and enforce safety standards,” she emphasised.

It stressed the need for the establishment of a traceable gold supply chain to regulate gold buyers and prevent exploitation.

The statement urged governments to introduce economic empowerment programmes that will provide microfinance, vocational training, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“Women-led mining cooperatives should be supported with funding and equipment to improve working conditions. Governments must register and regulate gold buyers to ensure fair pricing and ethical sourcing,” she added.

It explained that mining-related disasters are not unique to Mali but occur across Africa, from Burkina Faso to Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond.

According to the statement, the Malian government and other African nations must act swiftly to prevent further loss of life and protect the dignity of the women who form the backbone of artisanal mining.

“Without decisive policy action, these cycles of tragedy will persist. WiM-Africa is calling on the African Union, international mining organisations, financial institutions, and civil society groups to join the fight for safer, fairer, and more sustainable artisanal mining across the continent.”

The statement therefore extended its deepest condolences to the families affected by the disaster, which claimed at least 48 lives, mostly women, who relied on mining for their livelihood.