Mozambique's northeast region, home to an expansive ruby mine, generated $6 million from five million carats sold, yet its 60,000 artisanal miners were largely deemed "illegal" by the government, facing crackdowns while foreign firms profited. This stark contradiction, where the state criminalizes the very labor that extracts wealth, emerged as a central theme at a high-level conference in Accra, Ghana, this week. Experts gathered to discuss critical minerals and governance, revealing how African governments consistently prioritize the interests of major mining corporations over the livelihoods of local communities.
Fatima Mimbire, a project director and extractive industry researcher from Mozambique, highlighted that her country, like many others across the continent, initially regarded artisanal miners as criminals. These miners, often members of communities where resources are found, remain excluded from the formal mining economy. The state's focus has historically been on large mining companies, effectively marginalizing local populations who have traditionally practiced artisanal mining for survival, long before global firms arrived. A special license for small-scale miners was even created but never implemented, further cementing their informal status.
The State's Role in Extraction
The lack of structured engagement with artisanal miners has directly fueled illegal dealing and smuggling. Mimbire noted that these marginalized workers pay no taxes because they are not recognized. Foreign buyers exploit this informality, paying less than market value, thereby profiting from the systemic exclusion. This informal trading, while a means of survival for locals, costs the government significant revenue, a cost it often blames on the miners themselves rather than the structural conditions it enforces.
Dr. Chukwuemeka B. Eze, Director of Democratic Futures in Africa (DFA) at Open Society Foundations, pointed out that most mines are located in rural areas, leading to local communities being told to relocate for mining firms. Resistance often results in forcible removal, leaving deep-seated resentment. These areas, rich in critical minerals, frequently become flashpoints for conflict and civil war, directly linked to governments' inability to manage resources, distribute wealth, or involve local communities in decisions. The lack of transparency, Eze stated, is responsible for much of the poverty and conflict seen in Africa today.
Imperialism's New Scramble
As of 2026, UN data indicates that nearly a third of the world’s critical mineral reserves—including cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earth minerals—are found across African nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and South Africa. This makes Africa's role in the global energy transition, from electric vehicle batteries to hydrogen power technologies, increasingly vital for global capital. Washington's National Security Strategy explicitly frames African critical minerals as essential for diversifying supply chains away from China, securing resources for clean energy and advanced manufacturing, and deepening partnerships through investment and diplomatic agreements. This strategy, including initiatives like the Lobito Corridor in Angola, serves to project military and economic power to secure resources and compliant governments for transnational corporations.
Patient Matabishi, Civil Society Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, detailed decades of illegal mining in his mineral-rich country. Mining companies routinely lie to the public, promising infrastructure like roads or schools, only to vanish after extracting minerals. Villages with vast mineral wealth often lack basic infrastructure, leaving residents feeling marginalized. Outsiders exploit this marginalization, driving wedges between communities to profit from the ensuing chaos. Matabishi emphasized that local people understand their interests, but governments frequently sign contracts with mining companies without proper consultation or explanation to the affected communities.
Labor's Self-Organization and Systemic Limits
Despite systemic marginalization, artisanal miners are organizing. Mozambique is reportedly "reversing the trend" by allowing informal miners to form associations, engage with authorities, register small firms, and receive training on their rights. These groups are now able to explain their status as small-scale miners, not criminals, and are formalizing operations, seeking partners, and even scheduling mineral sales to avoid competition. Dennis Mwinkpeng, a Resource Economist at Open Society Foundations, noted that artisanal miners sometimes produce more minerals than formal companies, citing Ghana where over 50 percent of gold production in 2025 came from small-scale miners. He highlighted that whatever small-scale miners earn, they reinvest in their local communities, unlike large corporations where "very little benefit goes to communities." While these efforts represent a significant step in labor's self-organization, the underlying framework of capital extraction remains, with "formalization" often serving to integrate previously independent labor into a system designed for surplus extraction, rather than fundamentally challenging its foundations. The potential for conflict between formal mining companies and artisanal miners persists, a direct consequence of the state's historical prioritization of corporate interests.