Dual-listed Barrick Gold has welcomed the decision by the Ontario Superior Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a group of Tanzanian nationals who had alleged human rights abuses by Tanzanian police officers at the company’s North Mara gold mine.
The court ruled this week that Ontario, Canada, was not the appropriate jurisdiction to hear the claims.
The lawsuit, filed in November 2022 by 21 Tanzanian nationals, accused Barrick of complicity in extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by police officers guarding the North Mara mine. The plaintiffs claimed that Barrick, which owns a majority stake in North Mara Gold Mine, effectively controlled the police presence at the site and should therefore be held responsible for any human rights violations.
Commenting on the ruling, Barrick CEO Mark Bristow reaffirmed the company’s position on the claims. He stated that Barrick had repeatedly refuted what it regards as “baseless claims by a small number of activist NGOs” alleging historical human rights abuses around the North Mara mine.
“We are proud of the work we have done in Tanzania through our Twiga partnership with the government. Our mines’ revenue contribution is having a transformative effect on the country’s economy while our investment in the socio-economic development of our host communities, coupled with our holistic sustainability strategy, has improved the quality of their lives materially,” said Bristow.
Barrick has operated the North Mara mine since 2019, following its acquisition of a majority stake in North Mara. The mine, located in Tanzania’s northwest region, is one of the country’s largest gold-producing assets.