Burkina Faso Closes Artisanal Gold Mining Sites After Jihadist Killings

By Emmanuel Tumanjong

Special to Dow Jones Newswires

After jihadists killed more than 130 people in Burkina Faso, the West African nation's government has ordered that artisanal mining activities in the two gold-rich localities of Oudalan and Yagha areas should cease.

Salfo Kabore, governor of the Sahel region, has ordered that all artisanal gold miners should leave the mining sites, according to a statement issued on June 6.

Last week, armed men used bikes to raid Burkina Faso's eastern localities and killed more than 130 unarmed civilians. No one has claimed the killings, but government officials said it was the work of Islamic State's regional affiliate, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

The government said gold mining was the main source of income that propagates insurgence in the country, as jihadists impose taxes to finance their activities.

Gold production in Burkina Faso rose from 50.3 tons in 2019 to 60 tons in 2020 after a period of decline due to terrorist attacks, the country's ministry of Mines, Quarries and Energy said in April.

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Corrections & Amplifications

This article was corrected at 1535 GMT to reflect that Burkina Faso's government has ordered that artisanal mining activities in the two gold-rich localities of Oudalan and Yagha areas should cease. Salfo Kabore, governor of the Sahel region, has ordered that all artisanal gold miners should leave the mining sites, according to a statement issued on June 6. The original version incorrectly said that industrial miners were also ordered to leave the sites, and that the statement was issued Sunday. Industrial miners were not ordered to leave the sites, and the statement was issued on June 6.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-14-21 0535ET