(Ecofin Agency) - Ex-Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 2007 to 2011, Tertius Zongo has been on the board of Endeavour Mining for over a decade. He exits the firm amidst a dispute with another firm owned by Simon Tiemtoré.

The board of Endeavour Mining will vote for the adhesion of John Muro as a new member at its next general annual meeting, on May 30, 2024. Endeavour, the biggest gold producer in West Africa, announced the move on April 22. The firm pointed out that Munro will replace Tertius Zongo (pictured), former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.

Over the past 12 years, Zongo served on the board of SEMAFO, then on Endeavour’s after it acquired SEMAFO in 2020. He has decided not to seek re-election as a director at the upcoming shareholder vote on May 30, but is expected to remain a consultant on West Africa-related issues, the company said. John Muro, nominated to replace him, is a former executive of South African Gold Fields with over 30 years of experience in the mining sector.

“I am delighted to welcome John Munro to the Endeavour Board. He brings considerable mining, operational and project development experience in Africa, as well as strategy and mining finance expertise globally,” commented Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Chairman of the Endeavour Board of Directors.

Endeavour Mining operates four gold mines in West Africa, including the Houndé and Mana mines in Burkina Faso. In this country, Endeavour Mining is currently in dispute with Lilium Mining, a company owned by a group controlled by Burkinabe businessman Simon Tiemtoré.