In May 2021 the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), THE West African Focal point of GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PREVENTION OF ARMED CONFLICT (GPPAC) announced the launch of an ambitious and innovative project combining Conflict prevention and natural resources, using the ECOWAS harmonized Mining code as Conflict prevention tool. The project is supported by the GPPAC in partnership with the IFA ZIVIK (GERMAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS).
Mali is often afflicted by numerous natural and man-made problems, of which conflict concerning poor management of resources is not foreign. The mining industry in Mali is dominant as the country is known for its wealth in resources such as gold, bauxite, manganese, lithium, and uranium, of which gold is most predominant.
The abundance of resources in the region has inevitably led to mismanagement, leading to frustration in communities and usually erupting into conflict. Poor governance of the mining industry in the region has also detrimentally impacted the nation’s economy and the livelihood of its youthful populace. In creating a solution to such mining ills in the region, the EMMMDA was created with a vision to « create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, built on good governance, and where people have the capacity to access and harness its enormous resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development and environmental preservation ».
The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has, therefore, undertaken the responsibility to advocate for the EMMMDA to help prevent frustrations linked to the mismanagement of natural resources. WACSOF also embarks to sensitize the public and mining communities on the EMMMDA, to enable them better perform an oversight role in holding the government accountable to injustices and mismanagement in the mining sector.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.