Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

By Raymond Kazapoe, Senior lecturer, University for Development Studies

Militaries that have taken power in Africa’s Sahel region – notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have put pressure on western mining firms for a fairer distribution of revenue from the lucrative mining sector.

Gold is one of the resources at the heart of these tensions. West Africa has been a renowned gold mining hub for centuries, dating back to the ancient Ghana empire, which earned its reputation as the “Land of Gold” because of its…

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~	Is ‘fake’ terrorism still terrorism? Here’s what the Sydney caravan incident tells us

~	After mass killings in Syria, can a fragmented country stay united?

~	In the wake of Alfred, how do we think about and measure the cost of catastrophes?

~	Why conspiracy theories and misinformation spread in the long wait for Cyclone Alfred

~	First wind, then rain. Next come the mozzies – here’s how to reduce your risk of bites and infections

~	Where are you going, EU democracy? The dangerous case of Romanian elections

~	Calculated risk: will the next Reserve Bank governor relax capital requirements for banks?

~	Journal indexation: The misconception of guaranteed quality

~	Health-care workers should not be a target. In Gaza, their detention and death affect the entire population

~	Regional Australia needs more workers to rebuild after disasters like Alfred. Skilled refugees could help