Burkinabè in Siguiri reject foreigner crackdown
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Guinee360
Roland Jean Didier Lankoandé, president of the Association of Burkinabè Nationals Living in Guinea, rejects the idea that the ban on illegal gold panning in Siguiri is a crackdown on foreigners. He calls on the community to respect Guinean decisions and requests support for affected young people returning home, according to Guinée360.
Roland Jean Didier Lankoandé, president of the Association of Burkinabè Nationals Living in Guinea, rejects the idea of a crackdown on foreigners in Siguiri after illegal gold panning was banned in this region of north-eastern Guinea. He called on Burkinabè people to abide by the official decisions of the Guinean authorities and respect the country’s laws, in an interview with Guinée360.
Mr Lankoandé said the ban concerned artisanal gold panning regardless of nationality. He cited the sanctioning of Guineans accused of condoning or allowing certain practices to continue, in response to interpretations circulating on social media that particularly targeted Burkinabè nationals.
The association leader also called for support for young people affected by the measure, so that they could return to their villages in dignified conditions. The ban comes after Guinea suspended gold panning in Siguiri and thousands of people left the region (Guinea suspends gold panning in Siguiri as thousands leave). The authorities also announced the dismissal of 479 local officials in Siguiri (479 local officials dismissed in Siguiri).
