Boffa in Guinea witnesses tension over the communities impacted by Chalco’s bauxite exploitation

The localities of Tamita and Lisso in the prefecture of Boffa, Guinea has witnessed that the communities are impacted by the exploitation of bauxite by the Chinese company Chalco, as it blockaded access from the port to the conveyor remain camped in their position. The inhabitants did not aspire to change their minds until the company assures the claims raised. Colonel Mamadou Ciré Bah strived to bring both the parties close together.

As per our information, during the negotiations, the representatives of the communities had promised to lift the blockades as of 10 am on 13^th January.

However, the observation reveals the opposite on the spot. A member of these community representatives confided that at no time did they promise the prefect to lift the barricades.

“We did not promise to remove the barricades. Rather, we promised the prefect to return to report to the people who mandated us, it would be up to them to decide whether or not to lift the barricades and, by mutual agreement, the communities have decided not to take into account the promises made by the company because it is not the first time it promised the same thing. Now this time, we demand concrete. If necessary, we will do a month but as long as there is no concrete, we will not lift the barricades,” the source from the community said.

On 12^th January 2022, during the negotiations, it was learned that the five Chalco executives from Boffa retained from the departure were decried by the community.