Who profits from Africa’s gold?
Key takeaways
- African governments seek greater control over gold, but much of its value continues to flow abroad.
- Renowned for his immense wealth, he is often described as the richest man in history, largely due to the vast gold resources of his empire.
- Yet centuries after Mansa Musa’s reign, Africa’s relationship with gold remains paradoxical.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
African governments seek greater control over gold, but much of its value continues to flow abroad.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Tanzanian miners look for gold at an open-pit gold mine in Nyarugusu, Geita Region, Tanzania [Luis Tato/AFP]By Pelumi Salako Published On 27 Jun 202627 Jun 2026Johannesburg, South Africa – Mansa Musa, the 14th-century emperor of the Malian Empire, often comes to mind whenever African gold enters the conversation. Renowned for his immense wealth, he is often described as the richest man in history, largely due to the vast gold resources of his empire.
Yet centuries after Mansa Musa’s reign, Africa’s relationship with gold remains paradoxical. The continent possesses some of the world’s richest gold deposits, but much of the wealth generated by the industry continues to be captured elsewhere. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa holds about 40 percent of the world’s gold reserves.