News & Current Affairs
Illicit Gold Mining in Africa Now a Global Threat, Warns UN
A new UN report has raised an alarm over the growing influence of organized crime in Africa’s gold trade, warning it now poses a “serious global threat.” These criminal groups exploit gold mining operations to fund armed activities, tighten their grip on territories, and stoke conflict for their benefit. Consequently, the groups’ involvement in the gold trade is fueling a rise in violence, corruption, and environmental harm across the continent, while putting vulnerable communities at risk of exploitation and abuse. According to the report, the criminal groups can do this because of weak oversight and regulatory gaps, which allow them to infiltrate supply chains with illegally sourced gold.
SEMAFOR
