Deadly Collapse at Illegal Gold Mine Claims 48 Lives in Mali

Souleymane Cissé, a pioneering figure in African cinema, has died at the age of 84 in Bamako, Mali, as confirmed by his daughter, Mariam Cissé. She expressed her shock and sorrow over the loss of a man who devoted his life to film and art; the cause of death remains undisclosed. Cissé gained international acclaim in 1987 when his film "Yeelen" won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, making him the first sub-Saharan African filmmaker to earn such recognition. His illustrious career lasted over five decades, marked by numerous accolades, including the prestigious Carrosse d'Or awarded by Cannes in 2023. The director's body of work is noted for its complexity and political depth; his first feature film, "Den Muso," was banned in Mali for its controversial subject matter. Cissé was an advocate for government support of the film industry and urged upcoming filmmakers to seek independence from European funding. Just hours before his passing, he appealed to Mali’s military leaders for support in enhancing the nation's cinematic visibility. Mali's Culture Minister, Mamou Daffé, and fellow filmmaker Boubacar Sidibé have paid tribute to Cissé, mourning the loss of "this monument of African cinema.”

More than 40 people, primarily women, were killed in a collapse at an illegal gold mine near Kenieba in Mali's Kayes region on Saturday, according to local police reports. The victims had entered open-pit areas left by industrial miners searching for gold scraps when the ground suddenly caved in. A gold miner's union leader confirmed the tragic event to Reuters. This incident marks Mali's second mining disaster in less than a month; at least 10 people perished in a mining tunnel flooding in late January. Sources differ on the death toll from Saturday’s collapse, with local police stating 48 fatalities, while the industry union leader reported 43. A police source also noted that some victims, including a woman with her baby, fell into water during the collapse. Mali, one of the world's largest gold producers, has a history of mining accidents, primarily due to unregulated practices and unsafe mining methods. The incident occurred at a site formerly operated by a Chinese company, as the Malian government faces disputes over revenue-sharing with Barrick Gold, a major mining firm.

At least 48 people were confirmed dead following the collapse of an illegally operated goldmine in western Mali on Saturday, according to local authorities and police sources. This tragic incident, which occurred at a site previously managed by a Chinese company, is one of the latest in a series of mining-related disasters in the region. Mali, a country rich in gold resources, has struggled with the challenges of unregulated mining practices, which often lead to deadly accidents. The local goldminers’ association reported the same death toll of 48, and officials confirmed that some victims fell into the water during the incident. Among those lost was a woman tragically carrying her baby on her back at the time of the collapse. This disaster comes just weeks after a similar landslide in January killed at least 10 individuals, primarily women, demonstrating the ongoing dangers associated with illegal mining operations in this impoverished nation. The search for additional victims is still ongoing, as highlighted by an environmental organization representative.