Staff and contractors en route to IAMGOLD operations in Burkina Faso were attacked late last week, with two people initially unaccounted for, Reuters reported Oct. 30.
The two people have now been safely located, IAMGOLD said Nov. 1.
The convoy, which included 33 people on three buses and three supply trucks, was heading to the company's Essakane gold mine in northern Burkina Faso. Details of the attack were unavailable.
IAMGOLD is offering support to the personnel involved in the attack, as well as to colleagues and their families. The company is working with local authorities in Burkina Faso to discuss security around the mine and roads leading to the mine, IAMGOLD said.
This is the second attack on a convoy heading to Essakane in three months. Another attack occurred on Sept. 1, leading IAMGOLD to temporarily suspend convoys to the mine.
The latest attack has had no impact on Essakane production, the company said. Essakane produces more than half of IAMGOLD's gold, producing 364,000 ounces in 2020.
Burkina Faso has seen a rash of terrorist incidents since 2015, which have internally displaced 1.4 million people. Some 478 Burkinabe soldiers have died since 2015 defending "territorial integrity," the army said. Essakane is located near the Niger border.
