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Ghazouani: we will open military zones to gold prospectors

The Mauritanian president, Mohamed O. Cheikh Ghazouani, announced on Monday that the authorities would open vast areas, from the closed military zone to gold prospectors.

Ould Ghazouani said that the authorities would meet the demands of the prospectors by opening new areas, specifying that ‘’104 thousand km2 of the closed military area will be opened to prospectors’’.

He added: ‘’ This area comprises shaggat’’ referring to a place located at the triangle border between Mauritania, Algeria and Mali. This locality described by prospectors as being rich in gold.

In shaggat, there is an old military garrison from the Mauritanian army, which fights against smuggling networks in the region. 

While declaring the intention of opening the area, the president said addressing the prospectors ‘’ I ask you to remember that as citizens, the security of your country is shouldered on you, you must be alert and vigilant’’.

He emphasized that the prospectors should abide by the laws, whether the current ones or those that will be introduced in the future.

The president paid tribute to the prospectors, describing their work as a’’ sacrifice’’, referring to that the prospection is an ‘’essential activity that contributes to the progress of the country’’.

As for the environmental and health impacts of exploration, the president said: ‘’ the prospection contributes to the development of the country. Still, it also bears a great degree of environmental hazards and health risks to human beings, pastures, animals, and waters’’.

He stressed that there would be no tolerance or indulgence with anything that may harm people’s health or bear risks to waters and animal pastures. In the same regard, he added: ‘’ I want to reassure the citizens that their health and safety will not be compromised for the sake of any activity whatsoever’’.

Ould Ghazouani declared that the company Mines of Mauritania would work alongside the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainable development to guarantee the respect of safety standards. In this regard, he addressed the inhabitants of zoueratt by saying: “nothing will be done without consulting with you, your representatives, and the environment and health authorities’’.

The statements of Ould Ghazouani came after a series of protests held by the inhabitants of Tiris Zemmour against factories that process stones saturated with gold via harmful chemicals, particularly Cyanide.

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