It should also employ the army to secure artisanal sites. Mining for minerals in Africa is linked to a growth in conflict between armed groups , where exploitation of resources finances rebel groups . Notably , the growth of artisanal mining , using manual extraction as opposed to industrial mining , coincided with heightened conflicts in eastern Africa between 2004 - 2015 , according to analysis by E - Business . Industrial mining , conversely , did not result in more violence from rebel groups , but did lead to more riots from miners against the government . Furthermore , increased industrial mining at the expense of artisanal projects intensified attacks against civilians and looting , suggesting that artisanal miners were forced towards crime for income .
Mining for minerals in Africa is linked to a growth in conflict between armed groups , where exploitation of resources finances rebel groups . Notably , the growth of artisanal mining , using manual extraction as opposed to industrial mining , coincided with heightened conflicts in eastern Africa between 2004 - 2015 , according to analysis by E - Business . Industrial mining , conversely , did not result in more violence from rebel groups , but did lead to more riots from miners against the government . Furthermore , increased industrial mining at the expense of artisanal projects intensified attacks against civilians and looting , suggesting that artisanal miners were forced towards crime for income .