Barrick Gold (NYSE:B) welcomed a decisive legal victory on April 8, 2026, as the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal brought by a group of Tanzanian residents concerning alleged human rights incidents near the North Mara gold mine.
The appellate court upheld a previous Ontario Superior Court ruling, which determined that Ontario is forum non conveniens—meaning it is not the appropriate jurisdiction to hear the case.
The court concluded that because the alleged events occurred in Tanzania, involved Tanzanian citizens, and required witnesses located in the country, the matters must be adjudicated within the Tanzanian judicial system.
The lawsuit sought to hold Barrick liable for the actions of the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) during security incidents at the mine site.
However, the court noted that evidence presented during the proceedings demonstrated the TPF acted independently of Barrick and was not under the company's control or direction.
The company took the opportunity to reiterate its "zero tolerance" policy regarding human rights violations.
Barrick emphasized that this policy applies strictly to all employees and contractors, and that it maintains rigorous human rights training and monitoring protocols at all its global operations.
The company also pointed to its independent grievance mechanism at North Mara as the primary vehicle for addressing community concerns.
The North Mara mine, part of the Twiga Minerals joint venture between Barrick and the Government of Tanzania, has undergone significant operational and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reforms since Barrick took over management of the assets in 2019.
Under the Twiga partnership, the mine has seen improved community relations and a substantial increase in the economic benefits flowing back to local stakeholders.