At Least 10 Killed in Northeastern Guinea Clashes Over Gold Mining Ban

At least 10 people were killed and 13 others injured in clashes in northeastern Guinea between protesters and security forces enforcing restrictions on gold mining, according to Guinea's government.

Guinea's Ministry of Territorial Administration said the clashes took place on Wednesday, when defence and security forces were checking that a ban on artisanal gold mining was being put into effect. Artisanal mining is small-scale, often informal digging for gold carried out by individuals or small groups. The violence broke out in Balato, in the Siguiri region, during a patrol aimed at illegal and unregulated gold mining.

Protesters put up barricades to block the patrol. The situation then escalated into clashes and exchanges of gunfire. Two pick-up trucks and a security forces truck were burned, and protesters took a firearm and a motorcycle. Both civilians and members of the security forces were among the injured.

Five of the 10 people killed were foreign nationals, and their identities had yet to be established.

Guinea banned artisanal gold mining in Siguiri on November 2, citing environmental damage, including pollution of farmland, rivers and vegetation cover. The ban has had effects beyond Guinea's borders. Mali said around 100,000 people had arrived in Bamako and nearly 60,000 more in Kouremale after being forced to leave Guinea following the ban. Burkina Faso said it had repatriated 45,406 of its citizens who were forced to leave Guinea because of the ban, sending them back to their home country.

Guinean authorities have also moved against people involved in the mining. According to Al Jazeera, more than 1,200 people suspected of illegal gold mining were arrested in the Siguiri region earlier in November, with the first mass trials opening that week.