Resource information
This paper analyses the reasons why Mali’s gold economy has failed to benefit the population despite its rapid growth and the boom in the gold market. It also explores the conflicts of interests between the State and the private mining companies in the country which arose from rules designed to attract foreign investment.
The authors highlight how these conflicts and tax abatements have impoverished the State and deprived it of revenue which should be used to develop the country. They also discuss how the Malian state does not have the means to regulate or impose its regulations on the operating mining companies.
Recommendations include that:
the Malian State should fulfill its obligations in the areas of respect, protection, and promotion of human rights
the mining companies operating in Mali should publish in their entirety figures concerning mine
the international financial institutions and other international donors to not induce the Malian State to create measures that favor foreign investment
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights call for a task force on economic and social rights regarding labor in mining operations.
