London gold market sued over ethical labelling of Tanzanian mines

High Court lawsuit brought against the world’s largest bullion marketplace for wrongly certifying gold from Tanzanian mines as responsible. This despite numerous allegations of human right abuses.

The families of two men who were killed at North Mara’s mine and shot at the Tanzanian Barrick Gold location in 2019 have filed a lawsuit against the London Bullion Market Association.

The lawsuit alleges that bullion market acted negligently in certifying gold mined by the Canadian-Tanzanian firm as free from human rights violations pursuant to the Responsible Gold Certificate.

Despite multiple allegations by lawyers and NGOs that North Mara mine security had committed abuse, torture, and murder, the LBMA continued to certify Barrick’s product as compliant with its Human Rights Standards.

Local security at North Mara, also known as “mine police”, is suspected to have played a part in the murder of dozens of people accused of trespassing on the territory and stealing its resources.

Barrick Gold, which is not a party in the dispute, stated that the North Mara mine was at “constant danger of invasion” by “rogue gangs trying to steal gold-bearing rocks.

If the lawsuit is successful, it could force the LBMA ban Barrick – the largest gold miner in the world – from entering this market.

The LBMA stated that it would like “express its deepest sympathy” to the families and friends of all those killed or injured in Tanzania but denied that the “allegation had any basis”.

Mark Bristow, CEO of Barrick, stated that the company is proud of its human rights record and that the North Mara mine has a “strong working relationship with local residents.”