At least 10 people were killed and 13 others wounded when security forces clashed with illegal gold miners in northeastern Guinea, authorities said, as tensions escalated over a government crackdown on unregulated mining.
The violence erupted on Wednesday in the mineral-rich Siguiri region, where troops have been deployed to enforce a November 2 ban on illegal and unregulated mining operations.
In a statement issued Thursday, the government said an exchange of gunfire left at least 10 people dead, including five foreign nationals. Thirteen others, including members of the security forces, were injured.
Authorities said the case had been referred to prosecutors for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to the government, protesters erected barricades as security personnel patrolled the area, triggering confrontations that escalated into gunfire. Officials did not specify who fired first.
Residents described a heavy security presence, with access to several affected areas restricted following the clashes.
One witness told AFP that bodies were visible after the violence subsided and that several shops had been vandalised.
Another resident said his father had been injured but remained stranded without medical assistance because security forces had taken control of the surrounding area.
The clashes come amid an extensive government campaign against illegal gold mining, including operations involving chemicals considered harmful to the environment.
Since the restrictions took effect, Guinean security forces have expelled tens of thousands of foreign nationals working at mining sites across the region.
The crackdown has also triggered a large movement of people across the border into neighbouring Mali, raising concerns about deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
Mali’s government said Saturday that approximately 160,000 people expelled from Guinea had entered its territory, warning that the sudden influx had created a humanitarian emergency.
Gold mining is a major source of income in Guinea, where informal mining operations support thousands of workers and families.
The latest violence has intensified concerns over the security implications of the crackdown, while the growing number of displaced miners places additional pressure on communities along the Guinea-Mali border.
