Several gold mines in northern Niger managed by a Chinese company were ordered to temporarily close after dozens of animals died from drinking wastewater, local authorities told AFP on Sunday.
Herders around the town of Tabelot had pointed to Sahara SARL’s mines as the only explanation for their animals‘ deaths, saying the region was not suffering from drought or any epidemics.
“We counted 24 dead over two days and at the end of April we finally realised that the slaughter was being caused by harmful products in the water the mines were rejecting,” said Youssaf Houssa, the chief of Tamannit, one of the affected villages.
Almou Akoli, who lives in Fasso, another village, said he lost 16 animals while some of his “neighbours cannot keep track of how many they have lost”.