Abstract
This chapter argues that in sub-Saharan Africa, mining sector reforms should be designed with the goal of facilitating the autonomous coexistence of, and equal opportunities for, miners operating at different scales. As it stands, the region’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is not afforded the same legal or financial privileges as those enjoyed by companies engaged in capital-intensive mineral exploration and extraction. In sub-Saharan Africa, the ASM sector must be put in a position where it can evolve autonomously and securely in settings where host governments and the management of companies in possession of sizable concessions have little interest in supporting operators. The chapter reflects critically on this conundrum, offering guidance on how to achieve a state of autonomous co-existence in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, it revisits the theme of ASM ‘corridors’ (or ‘blocked out areas’ for ASM), concluding with a case study of Mali, one of the region’s largest gold producers.