Canada: Ontario Court of Appeal confirms Tanzanian jurisdiction in lawsuit over alleged police violence at Barrick’s North Mara mine
“Victims of alleged police violence, killings at Barrick mine must litigate case in Tanzania: OCA”, 9 April 2026
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that Tanzania is the appropriate forum to litigate wrongful death and personal injury claims against Barrick Gold Corporation, which is based in Canada but owns majority shares in a Tanzanian mining company...
The appellants sued Barrick in 2022, alleging the company was responsible for 20 incidents between 2021 and 2023 in which the Tanzanian Police Force allegedly beat, shot, killed, and kidnapped individuals around the North Mara mine.
At the time… North Mara Gold Mine Limited and the Tanzanian Police Force had an agreement in which police personnel provided additional security…
Tuesday’s ruling affirmed a lower court's decision, which noted that none of the parties had identified any relevant witnesses in Ontario, while many witnesses to the alleged incidents were in Tanzania…
…[I]t agreed with Barrick’s argument that… the claims were not connected to Ontario. The court also accepted Barrick’s argument that it would not be able to fairly defend itself in a Canadian court, because there is no legal mechanism in Tanzania that could force a Tanzanian witness to testify in a foreign proceeding.
…[T]he OCA cited the lower court’s finding that “regulatory filings and other communications about Barrick’s global policies of sustainability do not bring the actual management, supervision, and security measures at the mine into Ontario.”
Barrick President… said the company is proud of its work in Tanzania, which it does "in close partnership with all levels of government and our host communities.
…[O]ne of the lawyers representing the appellants, said the appellate court’s ruling “undermines access to justice in Canadian courts.
…[T]hey planned to appeal the OCA’s decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.