Guinea has expelled 1,557 West African nationals convicted of illegal gold mining following a crackdown on unauthorised mining activities across the country.
Judicial and security sources disclosed this to the Agence France-Presse on Sunday, saying the deportees were transported in a convoy of 44 vehicles that arrived at Kouremale, a border community with Mali, on Saturday.
The convoy reportedly departed Guinea’s capital, Conakry, on Friday, carrying mostly nationals of Burkina Faso and Mali who had been arrested at different mining locations during a government operation against illegal gold mining.
The foreign nationals were expelled after serving prison sentences ranging from 18 months to two years following their convictions.
Guinea has intensified its campaign against illegal mining since the beginning of November, with particular attention given to Siguiri, a northeastern region known for its gold deposits.
The government is seeking to halt the unregulated exploitation of mineral resources, citing the environmental destruction associated with illegal mining activities.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the activities of foreign miners in the region.
Tens of thousands of West Africans have reportedly been expelled from Guinea after migrating there in search of mining opportunities, fleeing poverty and conflicts in their home countries.
The operation has also been accompanied by deadly confrontations between miners and security personnel.
At least 10 people were killed in Siguiri on Wednesday following what the government described as “violent clashes” between miners and security forces.
The deaths prompted Guinea’s main opposition grouping to criticise the government on Saturday, accusing it of an “authoritarian drift” and condemning the use of force “as a method of government”.
