‘Smoke everywhere’: Chaos as expelled gold miners flee Guinea
Moussa Konate searched desperately for his wife among crowds flooding into Mali after Guinea crackdown.
Expelled gold miners face chaos as they flee Guinea, seeking refuge in Mali. Moussa Konate, a 41-year-old Ivorian, desperately searches for his pregnant wife among the crowds, fearing she was separated during the frantic rush to cross the border. Since Guinea's crackdown on illegal artisanal gold mining earlier this month, thousands of displaced miners and their families have poured into Mali, overwhelming the country.
Mali's health ministry estimates a need for nearly 228 million CFA francs ($388,000) to respond to the crisis. Authorities, aid groups, and locals are struggling to feed and shelter the influx, which has already strained a nation where over five million people rely on humanitarian aid. Mali's security ministry is concerned that vulnerable migrants may become targets for jihadist groups in the Sahel.
Burkina Faso has repatriated 45,406 people, including 9,852 children, while Guinea has arrested more than 1,200 suspected illegal miners and initiated mass trials in Conakry.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
