Horrific, Racist Mining Abuses Continue in Sierra Leone
A new Human Rights Watch report has come out detailing the abuses of mining industries within Sierra Leone. Questions have been raised about a number of foreign companies that, while not chopping off any limbs, are still exposing their workers to the threat of death, with unsafe working conditions.
Koidu Holdings Limited, operated by Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz’s Octea Diamond Group, has been accused of providing poor working conditions, racist treatment and inhibiting local unionization. In 2012, a strike in Kono District led to two people being killed in police skirmishes. Steinmetz is now being investigated in neighboring Guinea over iron ore mining.
Addax, a Swiss firm that deals in sugarcane, has displaced a number of people who protested both poor working conditions and food security.
In the town of Bumbuna, where mining expeditions discovered an immense amount of iron ore, the quality of life has steadily decreased. African Minerals Limited (AML) is a London-based company that settled in the Bambuna area in 2006.
More: Horrific, Racist Mining Abuses Continue in Sierra Leone
It is important to note - the HRW report does not specifically mention ‘racism’ - that is an assertion by the author.
The HRW report does note the abuses by foreign corporations :hrw.org