“It is outrageous if the UK Ministry of Defence is getting involved in planning how to ensure that one particular party retains power in South Africa,” said campaigner Richard Solly, co-ordinator of the London Mining Network. “It is another example of the UK government’s policy of supporting British mining companies and lobbying overseas governments for favours for those companies, even when there are huge concerns about their impacts on communities, the environment and human rights.”
Rich and peaceful. Poor and unequal. With a small population of about 2 million people, vast diamond reserves, and an unusual lack of conflict, Botswana is known as Africa’s political diamond.
RAID and MiningWatch Canada have engaged in extensive exchanges with Acacia Mining over the past two years about security and human rights concerns at the North Mara Gold Mine. Our organisations have been critical of the continuing high level of violence at the mine site and the lack of a transparent and effective remedy programme.
