SEMAFO reports that all employees in Burkina Faso are safe

The terrorist attacks on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which killed 30 and injured more than 56, did not harm any Société d’Exploration Minière en Afrique de l’Ouest (SEMAFO) employees.

SEMAFO announced Tuesday that its employees were not involved nor harmed in the tragic events at the Cappuccino Cafe and Splendid Hotel. The corporation added that it expressed its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.

The operations at SEMAFO's Mana Mine were not affected by the terrorist attacks. The mine is located 167.77 miles from Ouagadougou, which is a five-hour drive from the city. SEMAFO has increased security at the mine to ensure the safety of its employees. The situation in Burkina Faso will be monitored closely.

The Mana Mine is one of three gold mines operated by SEMAFO in West Africa. The other two mines are the Samira Hill Mine in Niger and the Kiniero Mine in Guinea.

Over the past 20 years, the mines have produced more than 2 million ounces of gold. In addition to its business operations in West Africa, SEMAFO has established the non-profit SEMAFO Foundation, which supports the local communities through education, health care and income-generating activities.