WCC NEWS: WCC extends condolences, calls for justice in wake of Congo mine collapse

A landslide caused by heavy rain on 28 January collapsed several mines in eastern Congo, leaving at least 200 people dead. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 02 February 2026 The collapse took place at the Rubaya mines, which have previously collapsed because the tunnels are dug by hand, poorly constructed, and left without maintenance. Rubaya lies in the heart of eastern Congo, a mineral-rich part of the central African nation which for decades has been ripped apart by conflict and is already suffering from an acute humanitarian crisis with more than 7 million people displaced, including more than 300,000 who have fled their homes since December. Congo is a major supplier of coltan, a black metallic ore that contains the rare metal tantalum, a key component in the production of smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines. The country produced about 40 percent of the world's coltan in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. World Council of Churches general secretary Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay called for prayers from the global fellowship, and extended condolences to those who have lost loved ones. “We grieve with all those affected and hold you in prayer as you cope with loss,” he said. “We call for an end of the exploitation of mine workers who toil in unsafe environments and who bear the brunt of extractive greed.”  WCC member churches in Congo See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland