By Michel Yao and Sory Kondo
The Malian town of Kéniéba, near the borders with Guinea and Senegal, is well known for its gold sites. Major mining companies have been established there for years, and just outside the large mining sites, traditional gold panning attracts thousands of young miners from the surrounding areas and elsewhere. While artisanal mining has a positive impact on the local economy, there are also severe risks, especially for the local environment.