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Australia’s role in Africa underplayed

Australia Africa Mining and Energy Group
he Australian Government’s approach to rican security matters build upon the many chief executive William Witham convened a
Tits involvement in Africa is often knocked outreach programmes, including dealing with discussion on security in Africa. Panellists
for being lightweight, unfairly so, according to kidnap and ransom situations, rolled out over included Resolute Mining Ltd managing
Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group the years. director John Welborn, Australian Strategic
chief executive William Witham. “We are doing a lot, but ultimately it is cru- Policy Institute (ASPI) head of international
“I was surprised to learn about the things cial that companies manage risk as we are programme Lisa Sharland, Mali Ministry
that the [Australian Government] does, I think doing what we can do. We are committed to of Mines and Petroleum technical advisor
sometimes we criticise the Australian Gov- working with all countries globally on the se- Lassana Guindo and Australian Department
ernment for maybe not being involved in Afri- curity situation.” of Foreign Affairs Deputy Secretary
ca, but if you listen, there are a lot of ways that Sheehan thoroughly emphasised the need International Security, Humanitarian and
we are involved and we are being proactive,” for Australians travelling anywhere in the Consular Group, Tony Sheehan
Witham said. world to seek travel advice (Smartraveller –
Witham convened a panel discussion on smartraveller.gov.au) and be aware of any ernment can’t do it alone. There is real oppor-
security at Africa Down Under, in which Aus- potential risks in any given jurisdiction. tunity for the private sector to lead the way for
tralian Department of Foreign Affairs Deputy Meanwhile, Australian Strategic Policy some of those activities because they are not
Secretary International Security, Humani- Institute (ASPI) head of international pro- immune from these security threats.”
tarian and Consular Group, Tony Sheehan gramme Lisa Sharland called for greater col- Given Resolute Mining Ltd’s diverse Afri-
headlined. laboration between government and private can portfolio, managing director John Wel-
Sheehan – most recently a Common- sector, particularly in the mining sector, to ne- born has his eyes wide open to the potential
wealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator – pro- gate security challenges. risks his company faces.
vided delegates with an overview of the hand She also said it was important to define “Mining companies are used to operating
Australia plays in security issues in Africa and what the different types of security threats in risky environments, underground mines for
around the world. were, with cyber, climate, banditry and ter- example, and recognise the risks,” Welborn
Australia is set to take the reins from Swit- rorist attacks all needing to be addressed ac- said.
zerland on the Voluntary Principles on Secu- cordingly. “I think the security environment needs to
rity of Human Rights next year, and it is also “We need to have an inherent understand- be seen by miners in the same way and that
looking to repeat the highly successful West ing of what the drivers are, not only of con- then allows you to focus the amount of atten-
Africa Mining Security Conference in 2020. flict, but also what the drivers of peace are. tion it requires. Whether you are operating
The Government sponsored the inaugural We are in a space where we are quite good or not, you need to understand the environ-
West Africa Mining Security Conference in at identifying what the threats are; we know ment.”
Accra, Ghana, in June. The event attracted much less about building sustainable peace,” Resolute’s major mine Syama is in Mali,
a crowd of 200 people representing 78 com- Sharland said. one of the countries in Africa most threatened
panies. “We have got good examples, but unfor- by terrorist groups.
“We have to be very careful of what we tunately we have some examples around The security situation in Mali has severely
do but I think the feedback is that we should the globe at the moment of what were once deteriorated since 2012, with international
plan to do something again in 2020. What peaceful nations now trekking backwards. I peacekeeping forces continuing efforts to re-
that looks like has to be driven by the feed- think understanding how we are actually do- pel attacks from terrorist outfits, namely jihad-
back from this [first event] but I think we have ing that and working with local communities ists, from the Sahel.
a very good idea of what seems to attract high to build those things is really critical.” Mali Ministry of Mines and Petroleum tech-
interest. We will be looking to do something ASPI’s current work in Africa is focused on nical advisor Lassana Guindo said more help
again and we will be talking further with a lot practical and tangible ways for mining com- from other governments to assist with secu-
of our key contributors for what that looks like,” panies to communicate exactly how they are rity would be welcomed.
Sheehan said. engaging across the sector. “From 2012, Mali has suffered the worst
Following the West Africa Mining Secu- “It is not just a case of good practice. Mining crisis of its existence because of actual jihad-
rity Conference, Australia threw its support companies aren’t really exacerbating what is ist groups. From 2013, Mali is still recovering
behind the Kofi Annan International Peace- really going on and I think as the baseline we from its worst crises,” Guindo said.
keeping Training Centre and played host to need to ensure that is taking place and then “Everybody knows that mining activities
two Regional Inter-Agency Counter-Terrorism take a look at the potential of what many are very risky and risk assessment is the key
workshops, which aim to improve coordina- are already doing in terms of engaging and point for any investor looking at Mali.”
tion and cooperation among regional police, positively contributing to the security environ-
military and intelligence services. ment,” Sharland said. – Mark Andrews
Australia’s most recent involvement in Af- “There is real potential here, and the Gov-

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