London-listed KEFI Gold and Copper suspends operations at the Tulu Kapi mining project following a fatal armed assault that left multiple people dead
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Armed attackers launched a fatal assault on a major gold mining facility in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region on Friday, forcing London-listed Kefi Gold and Copper to suspend all operations at the site, according to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The attack targeted various facilities at the Tulu Kapi mining project, located in the West Wollega Zone approximately 360 kilometers west of Addis Ababa. Following the raid, Kefi confirmed a “serious security incident resulting in multiple fatalities” across its compound.
While company officials did not disclose the precise death toll or identify the perpetrators, security forces told AFP that casualties included local community members and a company employee. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Security Risks and Environmental Concerns in Regional Mining
The Tulu Kapi site began preliminary operations in March 2026, with Kefi planning full-scale commercial production by 2028. Beyond core mining operations, the project framework included constructing access roads, extending regional electricity grid lines, and compensating local communities displaced by site development.
The fatal raid highlights persistent security challenges surrounding major industrial and mineral extraction sites across western Oromia. Human rights advocates previously raised serious concerns regarding another large-scale commercial gold operation at Laga Dembi in Oromia, warning that toxic chemical runoff was contaminating local soil and creating severe health hazards for resident children.
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