Semafo confirmed on Thursday that operations at the Boungou mine have been suspended following Wednesday’s attack on the public road between Fada and the Boungou Mine site in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso that left 37 dead and 60 wounded.
Geodrill Limited said two of its employees were killed in the ambush, and dozens of people were feared still missing on Thursday, Reuters reported.
The incident happened approximately 40 kilometers from the Boungou Mine. The convoy, escorted by military personnel, comprised five buses transporting national employees, contractors and suppliers, Semafo said in a press release.
Sermafo is a Canadian-based gold producer with two mines, Mana and Boungou in Burkina Faso. It also has three projects in the exploration phase: Bantou, Nabanga and Korhogo.
The company said the Boungou mine site remains secure, but operations have been suspended out of respect to the victims and those impacted.
“Our sincerest sympathies go out to the families and colleagues of the victims. Our priority is their safety, security and well being. Given the scale of the attack it will take some time to properly deal with it and we will do our utmost to support all those affected,” Semafo CEO Benoit Desormeaux, President and CEO said.