Investors considering a mining project in West Africa typically assess reserves, logistics infrastructure and the fiscal framework. These factors are necessary, but rarely sufficient to prevent the obstacles that delay or derail a project once work is underway.
Five signals to watch
- Actual land distribution versus the official land registry
- Unresolved customary claims within the target territory
- The degree of alignment between local and traditional authorities
- Precedents from other projects implemented in the region
- Local institutions’ capacity to enforce agreements
A feasibility diagnostic conducted upstream, combining document analysis and field interviews, makes it possible to detect these signals before capital is committed rather than after.