Semafo

2019: 37 workers of Semafo are killed by fighters in Burkina Faso

On November 6, 2019 37 workers were killed and more than 60 are wounded as a result of attack of fighters on a convoy of the Canadian gold miner of Semafo in east part of Burkina Faso.

The military car moving at the head of a column was blown up using SVU on road segment where there is no cellular communication (section between the Fada and Boungou mines).

After explosion fighters opened fire at the remained machines.

In five months prior to the tragedy workers asked managers of the Canadian company Semafo to bring them to the place of gold mining by helicopters to avoid a trip around the dangerous road where there are regularly attacks. Local workers wanted to receive the same protection, as foreign employees.

At a meeting which took place in June, 2019, construction of a runway for delivery of workers was discussed. However at that time for security issued to miners bullet-proof vests which they refused, being afraid to draw attention of bandits.

Unused vests still lie at office in the mine.

For the end of November nobody took the responsibility for this attack, the president of Burkina Faso Rock Mark Kabore called attackers by "terrorist groups".