At least 10 people died and 13 others were injured during clashes in northeastern Guinea between protesters and security forces enforcing restrictions on gold mining, the government said.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration announced late on Thursday that the violence took place on Wednesday. Defence and security forces were verifying the implementation of a ban on artisanal gold mining when the incident occurred.
The clashes erupted in Balato, located in the Siguiri region, during a patrol against illegal and unregulated gold mining. Protesters erected barricades blocking the patrol, leading to a violent confrontation and gunfire, according to the official statement. The ministry did not specify who opened fire.
Ten people lost their lives. The casualties included five foreign nationals whose identities have yet to be established. The injured comprised civilians and members of the security forces.
Two pick-up trucks and a security forces truck were burned during the unrest. Protesters also seized a firearm and a motorcycle, the ministry added.
Judicial authorities have been tasked with establishing what triggered the violence and determining responsibility. Guinea implemented a ban on artisanal gold mining in Siguiri on November 2 after miners failed to comply with regulations, leading to severe environmental degradation.
This damage included the pollution of agricultural land, rivers, and vegetation cover. Neighbouring Mali reported last week that around 100,000 people had arrived in the capital Bamako. Nearly 60,000 more arrived in the border town of Kouremale after being forced to leave Guinea following the mining ban.
Burkina Faso announced on Friday that it had repatriated 45,406 of its citizens forced to leave Guinea by the restrictions. Artisanal mining, driven by growing demand for metals and rising prices, is a common activity across much of West Africa.
According to the UN Environment Programme, artisanal and small-scale gold mining supports the livelihoods of more than 300,000 people in Guinea. The government maintained that the restrictions aimed to curb environmental damage, including the destruction of farmland by heavy machinery and the chemical pollution of rivers.
Authorities arrested more than 1,200 people suspected of illegal gold mining in the Siguiri region earlier in the month. The first mass trials for those arrested opened during the week.
