Zimbabwe finally has gazetted the contentious Mines and Minerals Bill a decade later from its initial drafting, igniting hopes for attaining lasting solutions to mining-related problems bedevilling the nation.

The Bill, which has undergone several changes since 2015, is seen as a departure from the archaic colonial legislation last

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Mali's military government has tightened its grip on the gold industry as it moved to reclaim control from foreign operators and expand local processing with Russian support. The junta stepped up its efforts to reclaim control of its lucrative gold industry, moving decisively to seize operational reins of the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex from Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold and launching construction of a new

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President Brice Oligui Nguema has announced the move as part of a broader national strategy to industrialise Gabon's economy and add more value to its abundant natural resources. Oligui, who took power after the 2023 coup and was elected in April 2025 with nearly 95% of the vote, wants to reshape Gabon's economic model.

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Former Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has been sentenced to ten years of forced labour for embezzling around $245 million of public funds, alongside Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the central bank, who received a five-year sentence.

Ponyo's lawyer said the ruling was "unfair and politically motivated". The case has stretched over almost four years since the

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Experts warn that little has been achieved since countries in the Great Lakes region signed a mineral certification scheme more than a decade ago to help stop the illegal exploitation of critical minerals - which has been the source of some conflicts in the area.

During the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on April 9, one of the speakers lamented the lack of harmony between political and

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The capture of North Kivu's provincial capital, Goma, by the M23 armed group recently drew increased international attention to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yet much of the reporting on the crisis frames it as being primarily driven by a desire to plunder the region's rich mineral resources, reports The New Humanitarian.

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President John Mahama has ordered an investigation into violence between illegal miners and soldiers of the Ghanaian army that left nine people dead. "The miners, armed with locally made rifles, pump-action guns, knives, axes, gas cylinders, and other tools, opened fire on military personnel when confronted. In self-defence, the soldiers returned fire, resulting in the fatalities...," an army spokesperson said.

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Police are searching for an alleged "kingpin" of illegal mining after he escaped from custody following the rescue of 78 bodies from an illicit mine.

Lesotho national James Neo Tshoaeli, known as Tiger, has been accused by other illegal miners of being a ringleader responsible for assaults, tortures, and deaths underground, as

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The General Industries Workers Union has condemned what it called "the dehumanisation and criminalisation" of poor miners by the South African authorities. Rescuers this week brought to the surface more than 200 illegal miners who were trapped underground for months at Stilfontein mine near Johannesburg. Dozens of bodies were also

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Hundreds of illegal miners are yet to come to the surface, more than a week after a rescue team was dispatched to the area. The local government has implemented a new plan that includes building an unmanned cage to lift miners from the shaft.

Family members of the miners continue to appeal for assistance in getting them out safely. A total of 1,200 illegal miners have resurfaced from the area between now and

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