David Lewis and Ryan McNeill: Extremist groups strike gold in Africa’s Sahel

For Islamic extremists, African gold mines are a treasure trove both of explosives and funds to recruit new members and buy arms, writes David Lewis and Ryan McNeill

PEOPLE around Pama, a West African town on the edge of vast forested conservation areas, had long been forbidden by their government to dig for gold in the reserves, in order to protect antelope, buffalo, and elephants.