Insecurity in Burkina Faso – beyond conflict minerals : the complex links between artisanal gold mining and violence

• As artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso has increased in recent years, so have violent attacks by non-state armed groups. The assumption that there is a natural causal link between the two is, however, too simplistic. The escalating violence should rather be seen as a result of long-term trends, such as state disengagement, a growing dependence on gold and the gradual privatisation of security. To curb the violence, we recommend that policy makers avoid a repressive approach to artisanal mining and rethink the governance of the sector, in consultation with miners and rural communities.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Armed forces

Burkina Faso

Gold

Gold mines

Miners

Mining

Recommendations

Regional security

Rural communities

State

Violence

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)