Public Management

Illegal gold mining and livestock trafficking fuel terrorism in Côte d'Ivoire (ISS)

Illegal gold mining and livestock trafficking fuel terrorism in Côte d'Ivoire (ISS)
Tuesday, 19 September 2023 18:56

Following the 2016 attack in Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire witnessed an upsurge in terrorist activity between 2019 and 2021. Although the government managed to bring the situation under control, threats persist.

Illegal mining and livestock trafficking have been identified by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) as major sources of financing for terrorists in the country. The institute recently published a report outlining the links between these illegal activities and terrorism.

The ISS based its study in the north of Côte d'Ivoire, near the borders with Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali, where illegal mining is rampant. "The data collected confirms the interest of extremist groups that have operated in the northern part of the country in this illegal activity [...] Testimonies from people active on the sites suggested that the "jihadists" who operate there are very discreet and cautious. Even though they often warn people not to report their presence, they do not use violence and instead offer to secure the sites to prevent their dismantling by security forces. This approach may indicate a desire not to draw too much attention to themselves, for fear of frightening the miners or confronting the internal organization of these sites," states the ISS report, stressing that "some people have indicated or expressed suspicions that the 'jihadists' had also infiltrated sites through individuals acting as informants or recruiters." Terror group members also reportedly use the fear they have generated in the areas to intimidate miners. They also provide funding to finance gold-mining activities for profit.

Another sector where terrorist members source money in northern Côte d'Ivoire is the livestock trade. They buy livestock and resell it through official channels, steal livestock, or sometimes forcibly collect royalties from livestock owners. “Those unwilling to follow suit have no choice but to leave the area or face becoming victims of cattle theft, intimidation, threats of violence, or kidnapping,” the report said.

"To benefit from the protection of the 'jihadists,' I had to give two cattle per enclosure per year. I did it from 2020 to 2022. I also convinced four cattle owners in the area to collaborate with them to protect their cattle. Those who do not want to pay in kind (cattle) pay CFA500,000 annually. Their cattle will never be lost, and no one will bother them," testified a livestock trader in the Tchologo region.

It should be recalled that Côte d'Ivoire has been facing violent extremism since 2016 with the Grand-Bassam attacks. The situation reached another level between 2019 and 2021 when violent extremist groups carried out incursions into Ivorian territory. Although authorities have since managed to contain jihadist attacks, the persistence of extremist group activities in Burkina Faso poses a constant threat to Côte d'Ivoire.

To effectively deal with this security crisis, ISS researchers call on Ivorian authorities to consider all aspects of the situation, not just the response to attacks. "Ivorian authorities, in collaboration with organizations representing the interests of livestock sector stakeholders, are recommended to strengthen the implementation and compliance with the regulations governing this sector in Côte d'Ivoire [...], including communicating about these regulations and raising awareness among all stakeholders [...], strengthening the origin control and traceability of livestock in local markets and during the transport of livestock from the northern region of the country to other national cities, including Abidjan, or creating new mechanisms if necessary," the study emphasizes. In addition, "Ivorian authorities should continue their efforts to regulate the artisanal gold mining sector to increase the share of activity conducted under legal conditions. To achieve this, it is necessary to reduce the costs (financial and administrative) of obtaining mining permits, including the establishment of a one-stop shop, and accelerate the process of revising the mining code to better address the concerns of local populations regarding their access to and practice of gold mining under legal conditions."

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
• Burkina Faso-based financial group, Vista Group Holding, has acquired a majority stake in Société Générale Burkina Faso (SGBF).•The move is part of...
• Gabon signs two major financing agreements with Afreximbank totaling over $3.2 billion.• Projects target mining sector transformation, expanded...
• Afreximbank to mobilize up to $1.5 billion for Chad’s private sector development.• Agreement supports key sectors, including agropastoral...
(WAVE) - Wave Mobile Money, Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money platform, has raised EUR 117 million in debt financing to advance its mission of...
Most Read
01

• Maritime sector faces renewed risks amid military tensions in the Middle East• Blockade fears at S...

Israel-Iran conflict raises new threats for global shipping and oil trade
02

Lebara Group is now bringing its affordable and reliable mobile services to Africa, starting with Ni...

Telecoms: Lebara Enters Nigerian Market with Strong Competitive Ambitions
03

In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...

In Five Years, Francophone Africa Will be A Major Force in African Tech –Régis Bamba
04

• Google unveils Veo 3, its latest AI tool for ultra-realistic video generation• Experts warn deepfa...

Deepfake Threat Becomes Alarming in Africa as AI Advances Faster Than Laws
05

• Gates Foundation commits $1.6 billion over five years to Gavi.• Bill Gates warns of rising ch...

Gates Foundation Pledges $1.6 Billion to Gavi to Boost Global Child Vaccination
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.