Governance of the gold panning sites of Bokoro and Dacko in the rural commune of Séléfougou, Sélingué district

Abstract

Gold panning in the Southwest of Mali is characterized by local governance. Miners are subject to the requirements of the Tomboloma (traditional site management institution) and the Donsow/hunters responsible for the security of the sites. These organizations support the municipality, traditional legitimacy, and local youth in collecting gold panning taxes. They form the backbone in the opening, operation of the sites, and in respecting beliefs and prohibitions. Gold panning generates several constraints, which are interdependent due to the interactions among gold panners. These constraints are related, among other things, to the payment of fees for opening gold wells, financing the digging process until reaching the vein, managing ore heaps near the wells, and scaffolding. They collaborate with umbrella organizations, representatives of local communities, and sometimes the State. The objective of this article is to better understand the governance of gold mining at the Bokoro and Dacko sites. A qualitative approach was favored, with semi-structured interviews and focus groups, combined with a literature review. Data collection was carried out with artisanal miners at two sites in the Rural Commune of Séléfougou in 2021. Data analysis has confirmed that gold panning is an activity that relies on customary rules and principles accepted by everyone before settling in. Its organization is based on structured local management. This form of governance remains fragile and has various shortcomings, including opacity in tax collection and the lack of traceability of collected resources.