Mozambique: Repression of illegal ruby miners in north may raise risk of radicalisation of young people – NGO

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Mozambique: Repression of illegal ruby miners in north may raise risk of radicalisation of young people – NGO

8:06 CAT | 19 Apr 2022

File photo: DW via CDD Mozambique

The Mozambican non-governmental organisation (NGO) Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Sunday warned against the risk of radicalisation due to the violent repression of young illegal ruby miners in the north of the country, where there is already an armed insurgency.

” In fact, solutions that involve the use of security forces and the deprivation of liberty can, on the one hand, negatively affect relations between the concessionaire and local communities and, on the other, lead to the radicalization of young people involved in illegal ruby mining.” reads a CDD Mozambique analysis note distributed yesterday.

Most of the people involved in illegal ruby mining operations are ” marginalized young people, without vocational training and deprived of economic opportunities” reads the analysis titled: ” MRM should focus on dialogue and inclusion – Fight against illegal ruby mining through arrests and convictions can lead to the radicalization of young people”.

These are youngsters “who find in this artisanal activity a source of livelihood” and, therefore, “investing in their repression and imprisonment can contribute to the creation of a sense of revolt, thus increasing the risks of vulnerability to recruitment by extremist groups that carry out attacks in northern Cabo Delgado.,” it said.

At stake is the persistence of illegal mining in the area under concession to Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), in southern Cabo Delgado, a belt of land free from the armed attacks that have affected the province since 2017, but which is home to displaced people and is also open to recruitment.

On the other hand, the insecure nature of illegal mining means that there are frequent reports of deaths in the digging areas.

“The persistence of illegal mining involving young people from Cabo Delgado and beyond ,” despite the risks and repression, “reveals that the problem will not be solved only with police operations and/or judicial processes,”the CDD points out.

“Security operations and judicial processes” must be complemented ” with concrete initiatives for frank and open dialogue involving Montepuez Ruby Mining, local authorities and the communities living near the ruby mining concession”.

“Only by engaging in dialogue with local communities will the concessionaire be able to obtain the “social license” to continue mining the Namanhumbir ruby mine.,” it adds.

CDD’s position follows a press release last Wednesday in which MRM (subsidiary of British Gemfields) – which exploits one of the largest ruby deposits in the world – announcing the decision of the Montepuez district judicial court: the conviction of several people for committing crimes of trespassing and illegal mining in the area under concession to the company.

In addition to dialogue, “corporate social responsibility actions are needed to build a sense of socioeconomic inclusion among the families living in Namanhumbir,” the CDD highlights.

” When communities begin to feel the benefits of ruby mining they will be more proactive in preventing and fighting against illegal mining.,” it concludes.

MRM has about 34,000 hectares of concession for ruby mining in Cabo Delgado and is the main investor in ruby extraction in Mozambique, being owned 75% by the Gemfields group and 25% by Mozambican Mwiriti Limitada.

Since January 2011, Montepuez Ruby Mining’s sales have accounted for 94 percent of the country’s cash flows of emeralds, rubies and sapphires, according to the company.

MRM has raised $731 million (€665 million at the current exchange rate) resulting from 15 auctions held since the start of its operations in 2011, according to data advanced by the company in December.

MRM SHOULD FOCUS ON DIALOGUE AND INCLUSION

Fight against illegal ruby mining through arrests and convictions can lead to the radicalization of young people

Read more:https://t.co/vnxcmOlxUR pic.twitter.com/NyEIdgiAwk

— CDD – Centro para Democracia e Desenvolvimento (@CDD_Moz) April 17, 2022