MINING IN AFRICA SPECIAL — Abductions at Sierra Leone mines

As a result of ongoing political problems in Sierre Leone, only a handful of North American mining companies are active in the mineral-rich nation. Those problems appear to be worsening, and several abductions have taken place in the country involving foreign personnel at mining operations.

In January of this year, rebels kidnapped two Britons and a local worker in an attack on a U.S.-owned rutile mine, and threatened to harm at least five Europeans seized earlier from another mine. The U.S. company, Nord Resources, is reported to have evacuated mine workers from the site.

This incident brings to 19 the estimated number of mine workers abducted. The list includes five Europeans and a number of local senior employees seized from a bauxite mine held by a Swiss-based aluminum group.

Diplomatic efforts are under way to make contact with the rebel leaders in order to secure the safe return of the mine workers.

Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries, is a West African nation of 4.5 million people settled by freed slaves from Britain, Jamaica and the U.S. The rebels involved in the kidnappings are believed to be opposed to the current government of Capt. Valentine Strasser, who seized power in 1992. Mining in Sierra Leone is dominated by two major mining companies producing rutile and bauxite. There is also a large number of largely non-mechanized artisanal operations in diamonds and gold. The government is making efforts to attract foreign investment; however, political instability is hindering this initiative.