On 23 November 2022, 21 Tanzanian nationals filed a lawsuit against Toronto-based mining giant Barrick Gold over alleged police violence at the North Mara mine. The victims, members of the Indigenous Kuria community, have allegedly been tortured, shot, raped, and killed by the police.

The Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) NGO asserts that the mine has used Tanzanian police, which operates under a signed agreement with the company, for security purposes. This, the NGO argues, is central to the violence exerted in the North Mara Mine.

NGO MiningWatch has also conducted regular human rights field assessments, the last one being in September 2022. They have found levels of alleged violence against local Kuria by police contracted to the mine have remained very high after Barrick Gold took over control of the North Mara Mine. Earlier this year, MiningWatch had accused Barrick Gold of forced evictions, which the company denied.

According to Barrick Gold's spokesperson, the statement is full of inaccuracies, and Barrick intends to "vigorously defend" itself. The company claims it "exercises no control or direction of any nature over the Tanzanian police".

The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability urges Ottawa to fulfil a pledge to crack down on human rights abuses involving Canadian multinationals.

In February 2024, 11 plaintiffs joined the case - making a total of 32 plaintiffs.

On 15 October 2024, hearings commenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Barrick Gold has argued that the case should be tried in Tanzania, not Canada. Barrick Gold maintains that the Tanzanian legal system is the appropriate forum for these claims.

On 28 November 2024, Barrick Gold informed that the Ontario Superior Court had dismissed the case, ruling that Ontario was not the appropriate forum to consider the claims.

On 27 November 2025, the Ontario Court of Appeal heard the plaintiffs’ appeal against the 2024 dismissal, focusing on whether Ontario courts can hear the claims. The plaintiffs argued the motion judge erred in assessing Barrick’s presence in Ontario and the role of the parent company in overseeing mine-site security, while Barrick maintains Tanzania is the appropriate forum. Amnesty International Canada intervened, urging the Court to interpret jurisdiction in line with the right to an effective remedy.

On 7 April 2026, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed the 2024 decision that Tanzania is the appropriate forum to litigate wrongful death and personal injury claims against Barrick Gold. The plaintiffs plan to appeal to the Canadian Supreme Court.