At least two people have been killed during clashes with security forces at a protest against a Chinese mining company in eastern Guinea, according to Guinea’s press agency and a local official on Monday.
The demonstration took place on Saturday in Konkoi, near the Malian border, and left four others injured, the Guinean Press Agency (AGP) reported. Authorities also arrested around 40 individuals during the unrest.
The protest was sparked by local grievances over environmental damage and the destruction of blooming fields attributed to the gold-mining activities of the Chinese firm, as reported by AGP’s correspondent in the area.
The situation escalated into violence, with a man in his mid-20s fatally shot in the chest, while a child under two years old died after inhaling tear gas used by security forces, the correspondent revealed.
A villager who fled when the clashes began said, “This regrettable situation was caused by the intervention of the defence and security forces, who used firearms and tear gas against the protesters.”
Chinese mining companies have increasingly set up operations in Guinea, a country rich in bauxite, iron ore, and gold deposits. However, despite its abundant natural resources, Guinea, which has been under military rule since a coup in 2021, remains one of the least developed countries in the world.
Protests in the West African nation are frequently met with violent crackdowns.