Latest news with #Mali
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
French trial exposes human trafficking among champagne workers
Aged between 16 and 65 at the time, the 48 men and nine women came from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Senegal. Many are attending Thursday's trial. "They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor," Kanouitié Djakariayou, 44, told La Croix newspaper. "There was no clean water, and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches. "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept." "What we lived through there was truly terrible. We were traumatised by the experience. And we have had no psychological support, because when you have no papers, you have no rights either," Doumbia Mamadou, 45, told the local newspaper L'Union. Tipped off a week later by a local resident, labour inspectors visited the scene and documented conditions which "were a serious breach of the occupants' safety, health and dignity," in the words of state prosecutor Annick Browne. The prosecution says living and eating areas were outside, unprotected from the elements; toilets were filthy; showers were inadequate with only intermittent hot water; and the electrics were a safety hazard. In addition the migrants were working ten hours a day with only 30 minutes for lunch, having been transported to the vineyards squatting in the back of trucks. They had no written contract, and the pay they received bore "no relation to the work performed," according to the prosecution. "The accused had a total disregard for human dignity," said Maxime Cessieux, who represents some of the migrants. The 44 year-old female suspect, named Svetlana G., ran a recruitment agency called Anavim, which specialised in finding labour for the wine industry. The two others were her associates. In addition to the charge of human trafficking, the woman is also accused of undeclared labour, employing foreigners without permits, inadequate pay, and lodging vulnerable people in unfit conditions. All three face jail terms of up to seven years and large fines if they are convicted. The case has raised questions about the extent of worker exploitation in the €6bn (£5.1bn) champagne industry. With every grape having to be picked by hand, producers rely on some 120,000 seasonal labourers every autumn, many of whom are recruited via agencies. In 2023 six grape pickers died from suspected heatstroke during the harvest in the Champagne and Beaujolais regions - and in recent years there have been two other criminal cases in which agents have been found guilty of maltreatment of migrant vendangeurs. Trade unions have said some champagne houses hide behind middlemen, and they want the law changed so that producers can lose the "champagne" label if they are found to have used illegal labour – even indirectly. "It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery," said Jose Blanco of the CGT union. But the main body representing champagne producers – the Comité Champagne -- said mistreatment of workers happened very rarely and when discovered was immediately stopped. The Comité is represented at the trial as a civil plaintiff, in recognition of the "damage done to the brand" by these "unacceptable practices."
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mali starts building Russia-backed gold refinery to enhance control over resources
Mali has initiated construction of a new gold refinery backed by Russia, marking a step towards the country's goal of asserting greater control over its natural resources, according to a Reuters report. The facility, with a 200 tonne (t) capacity and a controlling stake held by Mali, is a joint venture (JV) with Russia's Yadran Group and a Swiss investment firm. The new refinery is expected to become a regional processing hub for gold, not only from Mali but also from neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso. Despite West Africa's status as a major gold producer, the region has lacked a functional and globally certified gold refinery. This has been a long-standing gap in the market despite previous attempts to establish such a facility, including by Ghana, the continent's leading gold producer. Mali's interim president Colonel Assimi Goita has emphasised the refinery's role in improving the tracking of gold production and exports. He pointed out that, like many African nations, Mali suffers significant financial losses due to gold smuggling, exacerbated by the lack of certified refineries and traceability programmes. The construction of the refinery is part of broader mining reforms under Mali's military leader, who assumed power in 2021. These reforms have included a revised mining code that aligns with changes in neighbouring countries such as Guinea, Niger and Burkina Faso, causing unease among investors. Tensions have been evident in Mali's mining sector, as seen with the recent court decision to place the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex operated by Canadian mining company Barrick under temporary state control amidst a tax dispute. "Mali starts building Russia-backed gold refinery to enhance control over resources" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Barrick's Future in Mali Hinges on Key Gold Mine Permit Renewal
One of the next major hurdles in Barrick Mining Corp. 's saga in Mali will be renewing a key gold mining license, after the state temporarily took over the vast Loulo-Gounkoto complex this week. The permit for Loulo, where processing facilities are located, expires in February, shortly after the period of provisional administration is supposed to end. Barrick filed a renewal request four months ago, a spokesperson for the company said, adding that a separate license for Gounkoto runs for another 17 years.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona carefully drawing up a roadmap for 18-year-old La Masia prodigy's development
According to a recent report from SPORT, it has come to light that Barcelona are paying special attention to the development of young forward Ibrahim Diarra, who joined the club in November 2024. After spending some time adapting to his new surroundings, the promising talent has started to show good signs of settling in, which has encouraged the club to build a clear roadmap for his progress. Advertisement Diarra, who came through the ranks of Africa Foot Academy in Mali, is set to be part of Hansi Flick's first pre-season training sessions. As per the plan, the 18-year-old will work directly under the German coach in the early weeks of preparation. Depending on how he performs, Flick will then decide whether to include him in the Asian tour with the senior team or let him continue his development under Juliano Belletti in the youth setup. Focused summer and interest from France Barcelona's trust in Diarra goes beyond just training. The club has given him a detailed fitness plan for the summer to ensure he arrives at pre-season in top condition. Advertisement For now, the youngster has returned to Bamako, Mali, where he is working hard at his former club's facilities. From gym sessions to personal fitness work, the 18-year-old is staying committed to following his summer plan to the letter. Despite his focus on Barcelona, there is interest from other clubs, especially in France, where some attractive offers have reportedly come in. However, the final decision will depend on the player and his entourage. For now, Diarra's dedication is clear, as he is working hard and sticking to the schedule set by the club. Barcelona's plan for Diarra shows how serious they are about nurturing young talent. With the right support and consistent effort, the forward could be one of the names to watch in the coming seasons.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Canadian mining giant loses control of African site
Mali has temporarily stripped Canadian firm Barrick of control over the West African country's largest gold mining operations, amid an escalating dispute over alleged unpaid taxes and royalties. On Monday, a court in Bamako ruled that the management of the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in western Mali be handed over to a state-appointed provisional administrator for six months. Bamako Commercial Tribunal Judge Issa Aguibou Diallo announced that the mine will be managed during the period by Soumana Makadji, a former health minister and professional accountant. The decision follows the government's closure of Barrick's offices in the capital and warnings to take over the site, which has been inactive for months. Mali's military authorities have defended the move as necessary to maintain operations and protect the country's economic interests. Barrick, however, has denounced the court order as illegal and a breach of its contractual agreements. 'This ruling follows actions by the Malian government to block gold exports and seize gold stocks belonging to Barrick's subsidiaries – measures Barrick believes to be unjustified and which led to the temporary suspension of operations,' the mining giant said in a statement. The Loulo-Gounkoto mines are 80% owned by Barrick and 20% by the Malian government. The company suspended operations at the mine in January after the authorities seized three tons of gold from the mines and blocked its exports over unpaid revenues – a claim Barrick denies. In February, Barrick said it had reached a settlement deal to reopen the mine, following an earlier $85 million payment made to the government last October. However, talks between the two sides recently collapsed after Mali demanded a lump-sum tax payment of 125 billion CFA francs ($197 million), while Barrick pushed for a structured repayment plan. Tensions have escalated since late last year over the detention of four Barrick employees, who face charges of money laundering and financing terrorism – accusations the company has rejected as false. The mining giant has filed a case against Mali with the World Bank's arbitration tribunal. 'While the company has made a number of good faith concessions in the spirit of partnership, it cannot accept terms that would compromise the legal integrity or long-term viability of the operations,' Barrick said on Monday. The former French colony introduced a new mining code in 2023, allowing the state to claim up to a 30% stake in new projects as part of efforts to boost revenue amid rising gold prices. The authorities in Bamako have expressed hope that a recent deal with Russia's Yadran Group to establish a gold refinery – 62% owned by Mali – will help boost national revenues from bullion production.
