Canadian gold miner Banro Corp. has suspended several operations in Congo due to security concerns, Reuters reported Sept. 27, citing CEO Brett Richards.
The company declared force majeure on Sept. 24 at its Namoya gold operation, where all employees had been evacuated, as well as other mines following repeated attacks by armed rebels. In July, four employees were kidnapped and held for several weeks before being freed, according to the report.
The declaration was partly meant to pressure President Felix Tshisekedi to address the problem ahead of his expected meeting with Richards in the coming weeks, the report said.
According to the newswire, the security issue in Congo brought financial problems to Banro, which is in the process of selling its Twangiza gold mine to its minority shareholder, Baiyin International Investments.
Reuters could not immediately reach a Congo mining official for comment.
