At least 10 killed in Guinea clashes over gold mining ban

At least 10 people have been killed and 13 others injured in clashes in northeastern Guinea between protesters and security forces enforcing restrictions on gold mining, the government said. The country’s Ministry of Territorial ‌Administration said late on Thursday that clashes occurred on Wednesday, when defence and security forces were verifying the implementation of a ban on artisanal gold mining. The violence erupted in Balato, in the Siguiri region, during a patrol against illegal and unregulated gold mining.

Protesters erected barricades blocking the patrol, as the situation escalated into clashes and exchanges of gunfire, the statement said. It did not specify who opened fire. Ten people, including five foreign nationals whose identities have yet to be established, were among those killed.

The injured included civilians and members of the security forces. Two pick-up trucks and a security forces truck were burned, while a firearm and a motorcycle were taken by protesters, the ministry said. Guinea banned artisanal gold mining in Siguiri on November 2.