Released for 24 hours? Hundreds storm ruby mine, but there's a catch

Maputo (Mozambique) - As a result of a disinformation campaign, hundreds of people have entered a ruby mine in the southeast African country of Mozambique without permission.

Hundreds of people stormed a ruby mine in Mozambique without permission as a result of false information. (symbolic photo)
Hundreds of people stormed a ruby mine in Mozambique without permission as a result of false information. (symbolic photo)  © Salvatore Di Nolfi/KEYSTONE/dpa

They had been falsely told on social media that the Montepuez Ruby Mine (MRM) in the northern Cabo Delgado province was freely accessible for 24 hours, the mine management said in a statement.

The mine's security personnel, in cooperation with police forces, had attempted to expel the intruders from the mine site. This led to violent clashes in which two people were shot, according to MRM.

It initially remained unclear who was behind the disinformation campaign. According to MRM, it could be an operation by smuggling syndicates who wanted to use the staged unrest to illegally steal gemstones from the mine.

According to the British mining company Gemfields, the main owner of MRM, the ruby mine in Montepuez is one of the most important ruby deposits in the world.