A Poisonous Mix - Human Rights Watch

shaft slipped and came down. It collapsed on two people. We dug other
shafts to get them out. They had back pains but no other injuries. 98
There are very few security precautions to ensure that shafts are stable or that those
underground can get up safely. Oumar K. explained that he took turns with another person
once every hour to ensure that the person underground still had enough strength to climb up. 99
Some miners perform magic rituals that they believe will protect them from accidents. The
boys working underground put on a brave face, but barely manage to conceal their fear
and frustration. Ibrahim K., who migrated from neighboring Guinea to Mali to work in
artisanal mines, said:
I am 15 but I work as a man. I work in a team of 10 people. I climb up and down
the shaft and work in the shaft. If you say you are tired, they pull you out and
you rest. The big men don't mind. Some only work two hours, I work all day….
It's dangerous—there are often collapses. People are injured. Three died in
a cave-in. The little children don't come down into the hole. What they do
about safety is that the big men bring sacrifices [such as] butter, lamb,
chicken…. I have had problems since working there—my back hurts and I
have problems urinating. No one says anything to me about safety….
I don't like working here. I would do anything to go back to Guinea. But I
can't save any money. There is a lot of suffering; it's very hard here because
of not having enough money. 100
“Pulling the Rope” and Transporting Ore
Outside the shaft, children and adults pull up the ore with buckets. This task is
commonly called tirer la corde (“pulling the rope”). Several children told us that pulling
and transporting the ore caused them pain and that they wanted to stop this work.
Karim S., a boy who worked at Worognan mining site with his older brother, told us
about his pain:
98 Human Rights Watch interview with Oumar K., estimated age 14, Sensoko, April 4, 2011.
99 Human Rights Watch interview with Oumar K., estimated age 14, Sensoko, April 4, 2011.
100 Human Rights Watch interview with Ibrahim K., age 15, Worognan, April 9, 2011.
31 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | DECEMBER 2011