At least 10 killed in Guinea in crackdown on gold mining

What the report says

Guinea’s government said at least 10 people were killed and 13 others injured in clashes in the northeast of the country as security forces enforced restrictions on artisanal gold mining. The violence took place on Wednesday in Balato, in the Siguiri region, during a patrol aimed at checking compliance with a ban on unregulated gold mining, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera.

The ministry said protesters blocked the patrol with barricades, and the situation escalated into gunfire. It did not say who fired first. Among those killed were five foreign nationals whose identities have not yet been confirmed. The ministry also said civilians and security personnel were among the injured, and that vehicles were burned and items including a firearm and a motorcycle were taken during the unrest.

Guinea banned artisanal gold mining in Siguiri on November 2, saying poorly regulated mining had damaged farmland, rivers and vegetation. Al Jazeera reported that the restrictions have already driven large numbers of miners and their families to leave Guinea for neighboring countries. In broader context, artisanal mining is a major livelihood in parts of West Africa, but it often creates tension between local communities, authorities and migrant workers when governments try to curb environmental damage and illegal extraction.

The government said judicial authorities have been assigned to investigate the violence and determine responsibility.