Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) has commemorated the “Silent 15 of Bilalikoto,” honouring more than 48 artisanal miners, mostly women, who lost their lives in a mine collapse in Mali on February 15, 2025.
In a statement marking the day, the organisation described the tragedy as part of a recurring pattern of preventable mining accidents across Africa.
It notes that similar incidents have been recorded in Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya.
According to WiM-Africa’s statement, many women engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining operate under hazardous conditions without proper safety training, protective equipment, or emergency response systems.
It attributes repeated fatalities to weak enforcement of mining regulations and inadequate oversight.
The statement calls on governments, the African Union, mining companies and development partners to prioritise safety in the sector.
It urges stronger enforcement of safety standards, formalisation of artisanal mining activities, improved monitoring of mineral supply chains and fair compensation for families of deceased miners.
According to the statement WiM-Africa also stresses the need for gender-responsive policies and greater inclusion of women in mining decision-making processes.
The statement maintains that as Africa positions itself as a key supplier of minerals essential to global development and the energy transition, the safety, dignity and welfare of those working in the sector must remain a priority.
It describes the “Silent 15 of Bilalikoto” as both a memorial and a call for concrete reforms to prevent further loss of lives in Africa’s mining industry.
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