Anger Boils Over at North Mara Mine – Barrick/Acacia Leave Human Rights Abuses Unaddressed

As Coumans met with indigenous Kurya leaders it was clear that they were keenly aware of the content of the latest Presidential Committee report and its critique of the parent companies of the local mine. [...] Coumans also witnessed the effect of the report, and of President Magufuli’s statements regarding the alleged illegality of Barrick/Acacia’s operations,9 on a mood of defiance around the mine. [...] This was the fourth consecutive year Coumans had conducted human rights field assessments around the mine interviewing over a 100 victims and family members of victims of excess use of force, including sexual violence, by mine security and police guarding the mine.11 The explanations given by villagers of the sounds that could be heard coming from inside the mine walls on June 19 were consistent w [...] In spite of the fact that the company is fully aware of the death toll, and the danger inherent in the pit accessibility, as of June 2017 no barriers had been constructed after these deaths, and even signs warning villagers of the dangers had not been put up. [...] Some of these interactions went on for years and were costly to the victims as they had to foot the bills for travel to and from the office.