A landslide that occurred during the night of March 9-10, 2026, claimed the life of Kouamé Romaric, known as "Roma," a well-established farmer. This tragedy has reignited the debate surrounding the deadly allure of illegal mining in the Bongouanou department.

A nighttime expedition that turns into a nightmare

It all started on Monday, March 9, around 10 p.m. Attracted by the hope of quick profit, Kouamé Romaric (40 years old) and two companions entered a prohibited artisanal mining site, near the village of Andé .

After three hours of intensive digging deep underground, the group decided to head back up around 1 a.m. to return to their respective plantations at daybreak. It was during this ascent that fate took a dramatic turn.

1. The alert: Roma, in last position, thinks he sees a vein on a wall.
2. The accident: At the moment it stops, the unstable structure suddenly gives way.
3. The outcome: One miner manages to free himself and helps the second, injured miner, to get out. Kouamé Romaric, however, is instantly buried under tons of earth.

The shock of a community

Despite the rapid mobilization of village volunteers alerted by the survivor, the excavation efforts were insufficient. "Roma's" lifeless body was recovered from the pit moments later.

The victim's profile has sparked widespread incomprehension. Married and a father of three, Kouamé Romaric was not destitute:

"He owned more than four hectares of cocoa and a thriving pig farm. He was a hardworking and unassuming man." — Local testimony.

His death raises a painful question: why would a prosperous farmer take the risk of descending into a clandestine pit in defiance of the prohibitions?

Powerlessness in the face of the "gold rush"

However, gold panning had been formally banned in Andé by Chief Nanan Kouadio to protect the environment and human lives. But on the ground, the reality is much bleaker. Residents note with bitterness that the ban is being flouted, even in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The challenges of gold panning in Andé	Identified risks
Public safety	Frequent landslides and deaths.
Environment	Soil and watercourse degradation.
Social	Desertion of plantations in favor of mines.

For local populations, awareness campaigns are no longer enough. They are now calling for stronger government intervention to dismantle these death camps and put an end to this tragic spiral.