Preventing violent extremism in Senegal: threats linked to gold mining

Gold mining in south-eastern Senegal could fuel the spread of violent extremism into West African littoral states.

As security incidents occur sporadically on both sides of the Senegal-Mali border, there is growing concern that the threat from violent extremist groups may be expanding to gold-rich south-eastern Senegal, which borders Mali. This report analyses the risks associated with gold mining in the Kédougou and Tambacounda regions of Senegal and how they could contribute to the expansion of violent extremist groups into West African littoral states.

About the authors

The research work underpinning this report was conducted collaboratively by Paulin Maurice Toupane, Adja Khadidiatou Faye, Aïssatou Kanté, Mouhamadou Kane, Moussa Ndour, Cherif Sow, Colonel (ER) Bachir Ndaw, Tabara Cissokho and Younoussa Ba. It was conducted under the supervision of General Mbaye Cissé, Director General of the Centre des hautes études de défense et de sécurité (CHEDS) and Dr. Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni, Director of the Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).