Table Of Content“Dr. Diallo presents a rich analysis of the emergence and evolution of
bauxite mining in Guinea, bringing a strong community lens to themes of
stability and equality, at one of the critical starting points for the global
aluminium supply chain”.
– Dr Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Offi cer,
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative
“ This is a brilliant study of the politics and intrigues surrounding Bauxite
mining in Guinea, and the best I have read on the subject. It is well-written
and brilliantly presented. This book genuinely breaks new grounds, and
academics and practitioners alike will benefi t from the rich data and analy-
sis. The author has indeed made a signifi cant contribution to the politics of
natural resource management in a developing society and we are totally in
her debt for this”.
– Dr Abiodun Alao, Professor of African Studies and
Director, African Leadership Centre, King’s College London , UK
“ Going beyond the negative perception of mining in Africa, this book pro-
vides an overview of the exploitation of bauxite in Guinea by highlighting
the interactions of key stakeholders. The data presented forms an important
source of information and inspiration for national reforms focused on good
governance and on concerns of grassroots populations”.
– Dr Moustapha Keïta-Diop, Professor and Dean of the
Faculty of Social Sciences, l’Université Général Lansana
Conté de Sonfonia, Conakry, Republic of Guinea
“Penda’s analysis helps better understand a complex period in Guinea.
I expect her insights will be more widely applicable!”
– Nic Clift, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University,
Australia; Former Director General of Compagnie
des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG) 2004–2007
Regime Stability, Social
Insecurity and Bauxite Mining
in Guinea
This book explores how bauxite mining has affected local and national political
dynamics in Guinea over the past 55 years, providing an overview of mining
interactions with social, economic and political spheres.
Guinea is amongst the world’s top producers of bauxite, and the country’s rich
mineral presence has numerous implications on local communities and national
policy. Guinea is an interesting and highly relevant case study in assessing the
impact of bauxite mining on regime stability and social insecurity. The author offers
a clear understanding of the role of mining during the Touré and Conté regimes and
analyses how changes since the election of Condé in 2010 have affected the socio-
political and economic development of Guinea. The author also offers analysis on
how bauxite mining has led to the emergence of new forms of social contracts,
sustained by mining companies instead of the state. Finally, the book argues
that understanding the stabilising and destabilising potential of mining is key to
ensuring long-term, sustainable, stable and inclusive growth of mineral-resource-
rich countries. The book concludes by highlighting the relevance of the fi ndings in
Guinea for the wider African extractives sector.
T he book will be of interest to a wide range of scholars, including those working
in the areas of African studies, political science, political economy, sustainable
development and corporate social responsibility. The book will be relevant for
academics, business actors, NGOs, policy-makers and students interested in the
African mining sector.
Penda Diallo is Lecturer in Sustainable Mining, Camborne School of Mines,
University of Exeter, UK.
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Regime Stability, Social Insecurity and Bauxite Mining in Guinea
Developments Since the Mid-Twentieth Century
Penda Diallo
F or more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
series/REISD
Regime Stability, Social
Insecurity and Bauxite
Mining in Guinea
Developments Since the
Mid-Twentieth Century
Penda Diallo
First published 2020
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2020 Penda Diallo
The right of Penda Diallo to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Diallo, Penda, author.
Title: Regime stability, social insecurity and bauxite mining in Guinea :
developments since the mid-twentieth century / Penda Diallo.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2020. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019034535 (print) | LCCN 2019034536 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367252113 (hardback) | ISBN 9780429286544 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Aluminum mines and mining—Guinea. | Mineral
industries—Government policy—Guinea. | Guinea—Economic
conditions—1958–1984. | Guinea—Economic conditions—1984–
Classification: LCC HD9539.A63 G8535 2020 (print) | LCC HD9539.A63
(ebook) | DDC 333.854926096652—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019034535
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019034536
ISBN: 978-0-367-25211-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-28654-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my father and mother, for being a constant source of
inspiration, for the values they taught me and for their
continuous support and blessings. To Prof. ʼFunmi
Olonisakin, for her inspiration and support. To Grandma
and Grandpa Olonisakin, for their unconditional love.
And to the vibrant Guinean youth, in their struggle for a
better future.
Contents
Acknowledgments x
Map of Guinea xii
1 Introduction 1
2 Framing Guinea: mineral extraction, rent and stability 21
3 Politics and bauxite mining under the Touré regime
(1958–1984) 48
4 Politics and bauxite mining under the Conté regime
(1984–2008) 67
5 A case study of the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée
(1958–2008) 87
6 Conclusion 109
Index 123
