Two B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO,NYSE: BTG) workers in Mali were killed in a robbery December 29, the Vancouver headquartered company reports.
B2Gold owns and operates the Fekola gold mine in southwest Mali, near the borders of Senegal and Guinea.
Mali is rife with Islamist terrorist activity, including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and groups affiliated with al-Qaida. Terrorist activity is mostly concentrated in the northern part of the country, however.
“All reports have identified this tragic event as the result of a robbery incident and not related to any terrorist activity,” B2Gold said in a press release.
The company reports that a bus contractor transporting B2Gold employees from the Fekola Mine to the capital city of Bamako encountered “an ongoing armed robbery approximately 75 kilometers west of Bamako.”
“Security forces accompanying the bus transport supported the safety of B2Gold personnel, but unfortunately the incident resulted in the death of two employees. Initial reports indicate all other employees on the bus have been safely accounted for and are being transported to Bamako for assistance.”
The company said the incident has not affected mine operations.
“Mining and processing activities at the Fekola Mine remain unaffected,” the company said.
B2Gold owns operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines.
