A violent incident occurred at the Montepuez ruby mine in northeastern Mozambique on Sunday, October 20, as hundreds of individuals stormed the site. The mine, owned by the Gemfields Group, is a major supplier of rubies globally.
According to Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, approximately 300 people invaded a pit within the mine. The situation escalated, leading to clashes with security forces. Police reportedly shot two individuals during the confrontation.
Later that evening, a crowd estimated to be around 500 gathered in a nearby village, expressing their intention to enter the mine. A false rumor, spread through a disinformation campaign, fueled this gathering, claiming that the company had opened the mine for unrestricted mining for 24 hours.
Gemfields vehemently denied the authenticity of this claim, stating that it was a fabricated rumour promoted by ruby smuggling syndicates. The company emphasized that the incident resulted from escalating aggression and that the use of firearms by police was a response to the volatile situation.
The Montepuez ruby mine is a significant contributor to the global ruby supply, accounting for approximately half of the world’s production. The incident occurred amidst heightened political tensions in Mozambique, following the general election held on October 9. Multiple international observer organizations have raised concerns regarding the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.