In the Sahel, the number of informal mines is rising as gold mining areas escape state control. Mali is emerging as a gold-purchasing hub for Sahelian countries, while Dubai has become the main destination for artisanal gold production from the African continent. From the hidden smelters of Bamako to the artisanal mines of the Ivory Coast and a major gold market in Dubai, Caroline Dumay investigates the transforming global gold industry.
The United Arab Emirates is being singled out for turning a blind eye to the origin of the gold bars entering its territory. In response, international institutions such as the OECD are calling for stricter industry regulations. The gold boom in Sahelian regions is attracting increasing interest from armed groups, including jihadists.
This investigation, carried out over more than a year in several African countries, was sparked by the arrest of Franco-Malagasy ‘mules’ at Johannesburg airport in December 2020 carrying 73 kilograms of gold in their luggage. The journalist behind this documentary sought to uncover who owned the gold, in collaboration with Stefan Carstens, Graham Walsh and Damien Koffi, as well as Walid Ag Menani and Anne-Fleur Lespiaut, who took exclusive images of the smelters at Bamako's large gold market and of the Intahaka mine in northern Mali.
H.E. Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chair of the UAE Bullion Market Committee, said: “The gold and precious metals industry is core to our economy. That is why we have long implemented the highest international regulations in areas such as anti-money laundering and the unethical sourcing of gold. It is now our intention to implement a UAE-wide Good Delivery Standard that will bring all relevant public and private sector participants together to embed the very best practices across our economy. This will further strengthen the UAE’s AML/CFT framework, which is a critical national priority and a central focus of the UAE leadership.”
