West Africa court finds Guinea responsible for 2012 attack at mining village News
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West Africa court finds Guinea responsible for 2012 attack at mining village

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice on Tuesday ordered Guinea to pay 160 million Guinean francs (around USD $16,000) each to the heirs of six deceased victims of attacks by government security agents and 240 million Guinean francs (around USD $24,000) each to the 15 others named in the complaint for human rights violations.

Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara delivered the judgment and said that the respondent violated the right to life, right to effective remedy, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention as well as freedom from cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment of the applicants.

On August 3, 2012, people in the village of Zogota and neighboring communities were protesting a breach of employment and basic amenities promised by mining companies and local administration. Thereafter, Guinean defense and security forces launched an attack that killed six people.

After the incident, Guinea revoked mining licenses of the mining companies involved. The companies are VBG-Vale BSGR (Guinea) Limited (VBG), a joint venture in which Vale acquired a 51 percent interest from BSG Resources Limited (BSGR) in April 2010. Beny Steinmetz, an Israeli billionaire, owns BSGR.

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