Illicit Financial Flows and Conflict in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

This report analyzes the intersection of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, illicit financial flows, and conflict in the border regions of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, providing policy recommendations to strengthen governance and reduce crime.

• Artisanal and small-scale mining is a critical economic driver in West Africa, supporting millions of livelihoods and contributing significantly to mineral and metal production, with the potential to advance sustainable development goals through job creation and revenue mobilization if properly governed.
• A gold rush following the 2012 discovery of a gold vein across the Sahel region coincided with an increase in crime, religious extremism, and conflict in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, leading to the expansion of areas beyond government control.
• The report focuses on three primary analytical areas: the governance frameworks for artisanal gold mining, the associated illicit financial flows, and the connections between mining, crime, and conflict, aiming to help governments restore stability and increase tax revenues.

APA

MacDonald,, C. N. ,. C. G. O. B. J. G. (2022). Illicit Financial Flows and Conflict in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/illicit-financial-flows-conflict-artisanal-small-scale-gold-mining

Chicago

MacDonald,, Clémence Naré ,Alec Crawford,Victoria Gronwald,Olle Ostensson,Jara Bakx,Angela Jorns,Holger Grundel,Abigail. Illicit Financial Flows and Conflict in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/illicit-financial-flows-conflict-artisanal-small-scale-gold-mining.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=MacDonald, |first1=Clémence Naré ,Alec Crawford,Victoria Gronwald,Olle Ostensson,Jara Bakx,Angela Jorns,Holger Grundel,Abigail |title=Illicit Financial Flows and Conflict in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=13 September 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/illicit-financial-flows-conflict-artisanal-small-scale-gold-mining |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{macdonald2022illicit, author = {MacDonald,, Clémence Naré ,Alec Crawford,Victoria Gronwald,Olle Ostensson,Jara Bakx,Angela Jorns,Holger Grundel,Abigail}, title = {{Illicit Financial Flows and Conflict in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/illicit-financial-flows-conflict-artisanal-small-scale-gold-mining}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }