Ethiopia gold mine violence leaves several dead

A violent incident at a new gold mining site in Ethiopia's Oromia region left multiple people dead and led Kefi Gold and Copper to suspend operations, the company said.

Work at the Tulu Kapi site began in March and production had been due to start in 2028. Kefi said on Monday that a “serious security incident resulting in multiple fatalities” had taken place last Friday.

The company did not specify what happened or how many people were killed. It said the casualties included security personnel, members of the local community and one employee.

Kefi said work at Tulu Kapi had been suspended pending talks with the government and other stakeholders on security. The company had been building a road and electrifying the site, and said a plan was in place to compensate displaced local communities.

It was not clear who carried out the incident. Oromia, Ethiopia's largest and most populous region, has widespread insecurity, including a long-running insurgency by local ethnic nationalists.

The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

Gold exports generated $5.65 billion last year, according to Ethiopia's mines ministry.