Yesterday March 13, Guinean opposition members protested and erected barricades in Conakry and in the mining cities Boké and Kamsar, thus disrupting bauxite shipments. This was revealed to Reuters by the sector’s officials.

The demonstrators require authorities to publish the results of the local elections held last February that is said to have been won by the allies of President Alpha Condé.

“It’s a situation that is causing losses with our boats stranded and waiting to be loaded,” stated Frederic Bouzigues, the managing director of Société Minière de Boke (SMB).

Meanwhile, in Kamsar, a train carrying ore from Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG) was reportedly blocked by barricades on March 12, according to an official of the national infrastructure agency.

Let’s note that last year, Boke and Kamsar have been the scene of riots with residents protesting against power cuts, pollution and the mining projects’ failure to improve their living standard. Bauxite is Guinea’s leading mineral product with large reserves. The country, which is the African top aluminum ore producer and one of the largest producers in the world, has been facing an unstable political climate for several years now. This does not allow it to take full profit of its mineral resources.