Russian Gold

The Western region of Africa became the source of abundant wealth for the Russians. Russian operated mines popped up all over Western Africa; mining for gold, the precious commodity. Africa has long been forgotten by the modern world and blind eyes were turned to atrocities committed here. The richest sector of gold mining in Africa is the Lefa Corridor in Siguiri region, in Kankan, Guinea. The region is situated some 700 kilometres North East from Conakry, the coastal city and the capital of Guinea. Established in 2005 by a British conglomerate, this mine is now wholly owned by the Russia and run by the Bratvra. Conventional mining systems in Africa were long forgotten by the Russians, and open cast strip mining is the main activity here. Here they could get away by paying the local a mere pittance of a salary, while destroying the environment. Blinded by the demand for precious gold, the ultimate trading commodity of the world, western countries adopted a "see no evil approach" to the activities at this mine. The mines employed expats to run the more complex tasks, while the locals did all the daily blood, sweat and tears operations. These expats are from all over the world, but mostly ex South African expats in their fields of expertise in mining. One of these expats was Eugene Marais, Byron's ex brother in law. Working in one of the mines, he was employed in a supervisory capacity. Rotating two months on and one month home, was his way of earning a living for the last couple of years, till one day. In his first year on the mine Byron was still married to Eugene's wife step sister. Byron supplied the conveyer belts to the mines in that year in a corrupt partnership with Eugene. Eugene would secure the contract at highly inflated prices. Byron living at his wife step sister home, Eugene's wife at the time, arranged the supply of these belts. Eugene was kicked of the mine not long after his first year on the mine. Two years ago Byron's marriage to her ended in divorce, but he learned a lot of this mine. The divorce also ended the partnership with Eugene. The last couple of days Byron found himself in Cape Town finalizing his divorce. It was here that Byron opted for a better life and decided to upset the balance of wealth in Africa.