By Beatriz Adas; Eleanor Mensah; Leo Johnson
Going Global: A Legal Podcast for Today’s Global Challenges is a collaborative Podcast series between Newcastle Law School and São Paulo State University (Unesp). It is dedicated to discussing contemporary legal issues related to global transformations and the challenges faced by the international (and post national) community. This series comprises three episodes that will explore Extractivism as a global issue. This is Episode 3 ‘Mining in Africa: traceability and global companies’.
Mineral resources play an important role in the global economy, but their extraction often raises complex legal, political, and social questions. This episode of the Going Global podcast explored these issues through the case of Angola’s mining sector with Professor Afonso ‘Mosquito’ Garrido, whose expertise spans governance, technology, compliance, and sustainability. The discussion examined topics including conflict (blood) diamonds, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the Lobito Corridor, and the challenges of regulating global mineral supply chains. Through these themes, both the strengths and limitations of international legal frameworks were examined in addressing issues of conflict, governance, and economic development. The episode primarily explored questions related to international law and environmental governance, highlighting the growing importance of legal mechanisms designed to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable development within the mining sector.
This episode was developed and presented by Beatriz Adas from São Paulo State University (Unesp) and Newcastle University Global Law students Eleanor Mensah and Leo Johnson. The subject is particularly relevant because mineral resources are essential for global industries, including technology, energy, and infrastructure. However, mining benefits are often accompanied by concerns regarding governance, corruption, environmental degradation, and social inequality. Understanding how legal mechanisms address these challenges helps to explain the broader relationship between natural resources, development, and international justice.
One of the first topics explored was the Lobito Corridor, a major railway and infrastructure project that connects mining regions in Central Africa to the Angolan coast. This project was compared to Brazil’s Grande Carajás Programme, another large-scale mining enterprise . This comparison raised an important question: do these projects promote genuine development for local communities, or do they mainly serve international markets? Professor Garrido explained that while infrastructure can create economic growth, its success depends on how effectively governments ensure that local populations benefit from those investments.
The discussion then moved to the issue of conflict diamonds, often referred to as ‘blood diamonds.’ Using the example of Sierra Leone’s civil war, the ways in which diamonds were used to fund armed groups and prolong conflict were analysed. This led to a wider discussion about the role of international organisations and whether stronger or earlier intervention could have reduced the human cost of the conflict.
A significant part of the episode focused on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which was created to prevent the trade of diamonds linked to armed conflict. While the scheme has helped reduce the circulation of conflict diamonds, Professor Garrido discussed some of its limitations. In particular, the Kimberley Process focuses mainly on diamonds that fund rebel groups and may not adequately address issues such as corruption, inequality, or harmful practices carried out by governments and corporations. This raises questions about whether international legal frameworks always reflect the realities faced by local communities.
Finally, Angola’s recent efforts to improve diamond traceability were explored. By tracking the origin of diamonds throughout the supply chain, governments and businesses hope to increase transparency and reduce illegal activity. However, the discussion highlighted that traceability alone cannot solve every governance challenge and must be supported by strong institutions and effective regulation.
Overall, this episode demonstrated that mineral extraction is not only an economic issue but also a legal and governance challenge. The discussion encouraged listeners to think critically about the role of international law in balancing economic development with justice, accountability, and sustainability.