Gold mining in Burkina Faso sparks a range of conflicts, some of which escalate into extreme violence. The frequent clashes between artisanal miners and industrial companies often result in the loss of human lives. A GIS (geographic information systems) app introduced by the Ouagadougou-based organisation G-AiD has helped encourage dialogue and prevent and mitigate conflicts.
The coexistence of the two kinds of miners has become increasingly fragile. Artisanal miners deplore that they are being stripped of their land and gold, while foreign industrial mining companies reap all the profits. Artisanal miners feel victimised and marginalised as they are excluded from the consultation process when mining permits are granted. They also face continuous threats. Forceful evictions are frequent, under the pretext that artisanal miners have encroached on mining company territory. While databases defining the boundaries of mining areas exist, they are often not provided as evidence.
This atmosphere of insecurity leads to confrontations between the two miner groups. Some disadvantaged artisanal mining communities also resort to acts of terrorism, with the stated aim of resisting the state and the powerful entities that deprive them of their rightful resources.
To address the pressing challenges to coexistence within Burkina Faso’s mining sector, in 2020 the G-AiD put in place the Mine Alert System. This is a GIS-based geolocation app that provides alert and demarcation on mining sites and permit boundaries. By giving open access to comprehensive national databases with information about mining and its geographical boundaries on mobile phones, it aims to prevent and mitigate conflicts between artisanal miners, local communities, and industrial corporations. It allows each stakeholder to be informed about their limits of intervention based on their precise location in the field. Once installed, it can be used offline with geolocation on.
With a mobile phone application, G-AiD thus fills a gap in the physical world, where the boundaries of permit areas are not marked. This system promotes a clear understanding of miners’ rights and responsibilities, helping avert disputes from conflicting interpretations or false claims.
The Mine Alert System has gained widespread support from stakeholders beyond the artisanal miners, many of whom attest to its efficacy and value. One explained, ‘Thanks to the tool, we no longer venture into the field to gather information. instead, we use our phones to verify the situation beforehand. The stress from unexpected surprises on-site has gone away, as we are now warned ahead of time.’ An NGO representative working on artisanal mining sites added that, ‘It enables us to proactively connect with actors already present on the ground, allowing us to familiarise ourselves with the prevailing dynamics before physically visiting the location.’
The involvement of the various stakeholders was key to deciding on the usefulness of the tool. Then, the mining administration, represented by the mining registry (DGCM) and national agency that supervises artisanal and semi-mechanised mining (ANEEMAS), consistently brought in their expectations during the tool’s development phase. There are efforts under way to update the tool with data from artisanal mining sites that have not yet been included, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
The Mine Alert System has proven effective in reducing tensions and contributing to more peaceful coexistence within Burkina Faso’s mining industry. In fact, when a miner intends to develop an activity at a given site, they first consult the tool to judge whether or not it is a sensible choice, and then decide on the appropriate level of investment. The experience has shown the benefits of harnessing technology to foster transparency, information, and respect for others’ rights, and is reminiscent of other experiments in civilian crowdsourced reporting, such as civilian ceasefire monitoring. It could be drawn upon to help prevent and mediate conflicts in other contexts where establishing the facts on the ground would help counter insecurity, victimisation, and the potential escalation of violence.
