Liberia: Rights Groups Seek EPA’s Intervention in Mafra River Pollution, Says It’s Affecting Women and Girls

Sep 7, 2022 | Front Page Africa
View Original

MONROVIA – Liberia’s quest for a revamped economy after 14 years of civil war launched an economic reconstruction strategy. This included the exploration of its rich mineral deposits including iron ore, gold, and diamonds. Unfortunately, this came with cost to communities’ health, environmental, social, and political rights. 

In a statement signed by Cllr. Margaret M. Nigba, Human Right Defender two civil society organizations said they consider the recent incident with multinational corporation, Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC), whose activities resulted in a chemical spill of cyanide into the Mafa River – the only water source of 10 communities in the region. This has a detrimental impact including cutting off the basic human right of access to clean and safe water.