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- Perenti Global employees have been involved in a deadly ambush which killed at least 37 people and wounded 60 others in Burkina Faso, West Africa
- The company has confirmed the incident involved members from its workforce, African Mining Services (AMS)
- A convoy of five busses came under attack approximately 40 kilometres from Boungou gold mine
- The company says its highest priority is working with local authorities to ensure safety and well-being in the workforce
- Perenti Global is down 9.66 per cent on the ASX and is currently trading at $2.09 apiece
Perenti Global employees have been involved in a deadly ambush which killed at least 37 people and wounded 60 others in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
The company, previously known as the ASX 200 listed Ausdrill, has confirmed the incident involved members from its mining workforce, African Mining Services (AMS).
A convoy of five busses was being escorted by military police roughly 40 kilometres from the Boungou gold mine when it came under attack.
The convoy included local AMS employees as well as Semafo staff and suppliers.
“It is with deep sadness that Perenti advises that the information we have to date is that there have been a number of fatalities and injuries, however, we are still working to confirm details with local authorities,” the company told the market this morning.
Perenti said emergency response services were activated and the location around the incident has been secured.
The company says its highest priority is working with local authorities to ensure safety and well-being in the workforce.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this attack and with their families,” the company said.
“We are considering the implications of the incident and of the security situation in Burkina Faso more generally and will be engaging with Semafo through this process,” it concluded.
This is the third deadly attack near the Semafo-owned Boungou Gold Mine in the last 15 months.
Burkina Faso is currently battling jihadist revolt, impacted by their proximity to the neighbouring Republic of Mali. Nearly 500,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the riots.
The attacks include hit-and-runs on villages, road mines and suicide bombings and have claimed more than 630 lives nationally, according to an AFP toll.
Perenti Global is down 9.66 per cent on the Australian Securities Exchange and is currently trading at $2.09 apiece at 11:33am AEDT.
