On February 16, 2025, more than 40 people, mostly women, were killed in the
collapse of an illegal gold mine near Kéniéba, in Mali’s Kayes region. The victims
were searching for gold in abandoned open pits when the ground caved in. This
marks the second mining disaster in the country within three weeks. Reports
conflict on the exact death toll, with figures ranging from 43 to 48. Mining
accidents are common in Mali due to unregulated activities and unsafe practices.
The Malian government is also in a financial dispute with the Canadian mining
company Barrick, having seized gold worth $245 million.
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