RTWed, 06 Nov 2019 20:41 UTC
© Reuters / Katrina MansonThe SEMAFO convoy was attacked by unidentified gunmen some 40km from one of its mines in the Est region despite an escort by local security forces.
A convoy of buses carrying employees and contractors of a Canadian gold mining firm and its military escort fell victim to an armed ambush in eastern Burkina Faso, leaving upwards of 37 dead and 60 injured, some reports say.
The SEMAFO convoy was attacked by unidentified gunmen some 40km from one of its mines in the Est region despite an escort by local security forces. The total number of casualties is not yet known, and an official statement from the company only mentions
"several fatalities and injuries."
"Bongou mine site remains secured and our operations are not affected. We are actively working with all levels of authorities to ensure the ongoing safety and security of our employees, contractors and suppliers," the company said in a
statement.
A SEMAFO convoy was attacked in August 2018 not far from the same mine.
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Comment: Jihadists kill at least 53 soldiers and 1 civilian in Mali attack
From their stronghold in Mali, groups with links to al-Qaida and Islamic State have been able to strike across the Sahel, destabilising parts of Niger and Burkina Faso.
Thirty-eight Malian soldiers were killed on 30 September in coordinated attacks on two army bases in the centre of the country, which has slipped from government control despite the presence of French army units and other international forces.
Around 20 people were killed last month in an attack on a gold mining site in neighbouring Burkina Faso, suggesting the violence continues to spread.
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Comment: Jihadists kill at least 53 soldiers and 1 civilian in Mali attack See also: