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Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Thursday 28 March 2024

Villagers victorious in gold mine scrap

Villagers in the central Ivory Coast are savouring a rare victory after reaching a deal with a Canadian gold mine operator following a violent four-year battle for compensation. Since it began operating in 2014, the Agbaou gold mine has been hit by demonstrations by local people angered that they had not received money for the loss of lands used for agriculture. A report on the News24 site notes that the stand-off eventually led to talks which have secured the breakthrough. It will see the mine paying an undisclosed amount of compensation and offering employment to about 100 locals. According to the document outlining details of the agreement, both sides agreed to ‘end all forms of violence and intimidation’ through the establishment of a mechanism ‘for direct communication in order to identify possible crises and tensions between the mines and local stakeholders’.