[liberationtech] Jihadists Exploit Gold Mines in Africa After Losing Ground in the Middle East

[Yosem Companys]

Groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State are expanding in Africa and
gaining control of gold mines
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, *Reuters* reports. The jihadists are attacking industrial operations, and
tapping the $2 billion informal gold trade in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger,
which is largely out of state control. The mines are a hideout and a source
of two vital supplies — funds with which to recruit new members and buy
arms, and explosives and detonators to stage attacks. Hundreds of people
have died in attacks, including at least 39 gold mine workers ambushed
earlier this month. Researchers and the United Nations had sounded the
alarm on the risks of armed extremists reaching the area’s gold mines.
Meanwhile, Reuters’ analysis of data from Burkina Faso, and testimony from
people who have fled mining areas, prove that this is occurring at scale.
In Burkino Faso, around 2,200 possible informal gold mines were identified
in in 2018, and about half of them are within 16 miles of places where
militants have carried out attacks. In 2018, government officials visited
24 sites close to attacks and estimated they produced a total of 727 kg of
gold per year — worth about $34 million at current prices.
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