Varney (not her real name) washed his face with water from the Mafa River in Liberia’s Grand Cape Mount County last May. About three kilometers away, five-year-old Musa drank water from the same spring. It was normal among the residents who lived on the banks of the river, but shortly afterwards Varney went blind and Musa died of diarrhea. Another thirty locals suffered from fevers and rashes, and the river’s dead fauna began to float to the surface. Preliminary analyzes conducted by the Liberian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed the water contained “higher levels of free cyanide than permitted”. The agency suspected the source to be gold mining company Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC), a subsidiary of Canadian multinational Avesoro Resources Inc. BMMC responded by saying that it “categorically disagrees” and “disagrees” with the EPA’s conclusions. that they were based on insufficient evidence.
This isn’t the first time the company has been accused of polluting the area. In March 2016, a failure at a processing plant led to the release of harmful chemicals, including cyanide and arsenic. More than 25 people fell ill and BMMC was fined $10,000. A similar thing happened in 2017 with MSG-Gold, another subsidiary of Avesoro Resources. The company was accused of dumping nearly 11.5 million liters of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the Sein River in Bong County. A report by the public body, the National Concessions Office, revealed that several residents in the area had vomited and found blood in their urine and feces. The document claimed that the pollutants would linger in the environment for several decades and called MSG’s slow response “unwarranted, reckless and inconsiderate”. Avesoro temporarily suspended its activities, but said that according to its own investigation, “a small water spill” from its waste storage facility had had no “adverse impact on human settlements”.
Nor is Avesoro the only mining company accused of contamination in Liberia. In a 2021 report, independent investigative organization Swedwatch revealed that Firestone Liberia, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Inc, was responsible for high levels of pollution in the Farmington River. Residents in neighboring communities reported suffering from infections, rashes and nausea, and that river fauna had been decimated. No action was taken against the company, which denied being aware of any negative consequences of its activities for residents of the area.
insufficient sanctions
Every time Liberia’s rivers are polluted, the people who depend on them suffer tremendous damage to their health and livelihoods. However, as in many other crises, women are more affected for various reasons. For example, pregnant women are more prone to serious health problems from consuming contaminated food or water, and women and girls need clean water to maintain a healthy level of hygiene during menstruation. And with an estimated 72% of domestic water collected globally by women and 14% by children, these groups are more vulnerable to theft and rape when water has to be carried remotely. In Liberia and other countries, women and girls are also often entrusted with domestic chores that require their use, such as cooking and watering crops, and when they are unable to do so, they are at increased risk of domestic violence. In addition, the decline in women’s income due to the consequences of pollution in fisheries and agriculture, combined with food insecurity, exposes them to sexual exploitation and abuse.
In response to complaints against companies polluting rivers, the Liberian government has conducted investigations, imposed fines in some cases and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a clean and safe environment. However, its penalties have always been small and insufficient to make billion-dollar companies seriously reconsider their practices. A more effective strategy would be to review the rules and regulations governing the granting of exploitation permits to multinational companies, as well as establish clear and binding rules that oblige companies to respect fundamental rights, with a particular focus on the particular harms affecting women and children . Violations must lead to the withdrawal of licenses. When it is clear that a mining company has breached its contract and harmed local communities, the Liberian government must assert its sovereignty and hold multinational companies accountable.
Margaret Nigba is Founder and CEO of Her Voice Liberia, Attorney and Aspen New Voices Fellow.
This article was originally published in English by the African Arguments platform.
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