AllAfrica – (DIABOUGOU) Abundant gold mines in Senegal’s eastern region of Kedougou, and particularly the informal mines near the town of Diabougou close to the Malian border, brought an economic boon to the area, but they are also attracting a thriving sex trafficking trade and increasing cases of HIV. Gold mining areas in Senegal statistically have higher rates of HIV than areas without gold; the Kedougou region’s 1.7% HIV prevalence rate is more than twice the 0.7% national rate and is causing concern among health authorities. Popular beliefs maintain that sexual relations with a woman make one more likely to find gold, which perpetuates the sex trade.
(Reliability: 43.42 High)
Comment: The informal gold mine in Diabougou is relatively new at five years old, and the town has seen a huge increase in population from about 500 to a few thousand. Major international companies have started moving into the eastern region of Senegal. As the mining towns grow, gold and prostitution are becoming inseparable, particularly in Kedougou. If Senegalese authorities do not provide reliable law enforcement resources to regulate behaviors around mines including cracking down on prostitution, sex trafficking could remain rampant in Senegal’s mining areas, risk increasing the country’s HIV/AIDS rate, and taint gold as a toxic Senegalese export.
(Analytic Confidence: Medium)
No comments:
Post a Comment