Abstract
Mining conflicts are among the most widespread issues linked to natural resources development and management in mineral-rich countries. Guinea mining industries development presents a huge challenge in promoting integrated, prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable mining. The scramble of companies to exploit bauxite in the Boke region is correlated with a wave of protests and violent conflicts. This article explores the reasons for the resurgence of conflicts in the Guinea Republic, proposes some strategies for better mining conflicts prevention, management in Boke region. Thus, through a survey carried out in 7 Municipalities of the region and other mining localities of the country, we use a quantitative approach through descriptive statistic elements to identify the causes of the outburst of the conflict in Boke which seriously hinders the climate of socioeconomic activities for local development. The outcomes of this study reveal that youth employment, water and electricity supply, the weakness in the management of compensation mechanism are the main reasons for conflict escalation in Boke. Although, solutions proposed by the state and some NGOs appear to be hopeful. However, better management of public services and good governance based on more innovative public-private partnerships, and changes in government policy to better benefit the local communities could solve these problems holistically. The implementation of a better strategy (approach) in the management of relations with the surrounding communities by considering the depths and the sociohistorical, cultural, economic characteristics of the region would guarantee an environment of peaceful cohabitation between the local communities and the companies.
Highlights
The harmonious development of a nation is directly related to the development of its endowed natural resources, renewable or not
Most researchers have argued that the main upstream of these mining conflicts between communities and companies on contextual and local scale lie in various aspects, ranging from the governance policy of mining resources related to the mining policy and income distribution [6, 8,9,10,11]; environmental damage of mining activities to communities such as disruption of cultivable land and water pollution, deforestation, etc., considered for a long time as conflict triggering events between foreign companies and local communities [12,13,14,15]; and the social framework which concerns the failure to Issiagha Camara et al.: Bauxite Mining Conflicts in Guinea: Causes Identification, Analysis, and Countermeasures respect the local content, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) towards local communities, and concerns about the scarcity of traditional means of subsistence [16,17,18]
According to the survey outcomes of ANAFIG, about 95% of respondents know the concept of conflict. They understand the notion of conflict as related to the lack of employment for autochthonal youth, low fulfillment with basic social needs, political violence against party activists, disputes between indigenous peoples and residents, clashes between farmers and herders, family problems related to inheritance, environmental pollution and destruction of rice-growing and/or agricultural land, and failure to respect the commitments made in the resolution of previous conflicts between protesters and stakeholders [44]
Summary
The harmonious development of a nation is directly related to the development of its endowed natural resources, renewable or not. Though, according to SMB Community Relation Service in Guinea, from 2015 to 2018, the Boké prefecture recorded 35 movements of revolts and road barricades (blocks) by the communities against the mining operations of the SMB. This had resulted in the loss of human life, destruction of heavy machinery of mining companies, as well as administrative buildings of the State
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