Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has expressed deep sorrow over the collapse of the Al-Zaraa gold mine in West Kordofan, Sudan, which claimed the lives of several artisanal miners and left others missing.
In a statement posted on his official social media page, Alake offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Sudan as rescue operations continued.
“My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the families who have lost loved ones and with the people of Sudan at this difficult time,” the minister said.
Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Alake urged immediate international and regional support for the ongoing rescue efforts. He also called for stronger continent-wide measures to improve safety, training, and regulatory oversight in the artisanal mining sector.
The minister noted that the tragedy highlights the persistent dangers faced by artisanal miners across Africa and stressed the urgent need for better protection of those working in the industry.
“No amount of gold is worth a human life,” Alake declared.
