"Barrick and Randgold Warned About Rights Abuses Ahead of Merger"

Top executives at Barrick Gold and Randgold Resources have been warned about human rights abuses at Acacia Mining’s North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania ahead of the merger between the two companies due to be voted on by shareholders this week. If approved the new merger would create the largest gold mining company in the world valued at $18bn (£13.7bn).

...RAID, a watchdog that exposes corporate human rights violations in Africa, wrote detailed letters to John Thornton, Barrick’s Executive Chairman, and Mark Bristow, Rangold’s Chief Executive Officer, describing a disturbing pattern of human rights abuses by security personnel and Tanzanian police operating jointly at Acacia’s North Mara Mine. Barrick holds a 63.9 per cent stake in Acacia Mining, which is London listed, and has pre-emptive rights to acquire gold mining businesses and exploration right in Africa.