Gold Trafficking in the Sahel

Sahel countries are some of the largest gold producers in Africa. While gold production data can be unreliable, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and the Niger are estimated to have produced 228 tons of gold in 2021, worth over 12.6 billion United States dollars ( $ ). The gold sector is a major economic driver in the Sahel countries.

In terms of impact, gold trafficking deprives Sahelian countries of millions of dollars in fiscal revenue every year. Competition over gold mining sites has fuelled violence between communities, armed groups and security forces. The absence or challenges in the implementation of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) regulations expose ASGM communities to human rights abuses, notably resulting from poor working conditions and exploitation. This affects hundreds of thousands of people, including women and children across Sahel countries.

Gold is a high-value commodity. It is particularly attractive to Transnational Organised Crime and armed groups, including violent extremist groups, due to the high profits it can generate and because of its use in money-laundering and illicit financial flows. High-profile traffickers in Sahelian gold trafficking networks operate on a regional level, effectively performing arbitrage as they shift transportation routes between different jurisdictions to maximize profits.

Read the full UNODC Report