(Ecofin Agency) - Firing real bullets and resorting to force, a number of soldiers deployed by Guinean authorities have tried last December 5, to expulse residents of Kintinian district (North-East), a gold-containing area, in order to cede it to the AngloGlod Ashanti firm, French media RFI reports.

The group of soldiers deployed in a district close to the Siguiri prefecture first used tear gas and batons to forcefully remove the locals, but later shot fires. Citing witnesses and health source present in Siguiri, RFI revealed that a woman was hit at the chest. The intervention also left some slightly wounded, the same source says.

Residents of Kintinian who keep refusing to leave their lands previously rejected a delocalization-indemnity plan validated on March 14, 2014 and green-lit by government.

Government said this show of force was needed to “enforce law and order” and added that AngloGold had already made enough concessions. “The firm is to begin the exploitation of this site but is currently facing opposition from populations, this despite a certain number of achievements and realizations it made though not obliged to,” said Guinean minister for labor and professional training and government’s spokesperson, Damantang Kamara. “It was therefore government’s responsibility to insure that the agreement it signed with the firm was not compromised seeing as there are unfortunately, many illicit exploitations and employers on-site

Highlighting that few of the parties opposing the exploitation of gold by AngloGold Ashanti “benefit directly or indirectly from illicit exploitation or intend to negotiate other deals”, Kamara admitted “violence was used” but believes that “in the coming days, everything will get back to normal and everyone will understand the importance of respecting Guinea’s laws and commitments”.