1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Mozambique's rubies: A blessing or a curse?

August 27, 2022

Rubies are increasingly prized on the international gemstone market. The world's largest ruby mine is in northern Mozambique, where thousands of people are fleeing extremist militias. Can the lucrative business improve the lives of the people there?

https://p.dw.com/p/4G8DW

The mine's executives have a clear-cut position: They say they pay the taxes they owe, and Mozambique's government should use the money to build schools in the region, ensure security and fight poverty. They say the mine alone can't provide a livelihood to the entire region. Meanwhile, some residents regularly attempt to enter and mine rubies themselves. In the past, there have been reports of violent confrontations with the mine's security personnel. Are the rubies a blessing or a curse?

A report by Adrian Kriesch.
Editorial support: Estacio Valoi

Skip next section About the show

About the show

DW "Reporter" Sendungslogo (Composite)

Reporter — On Location

DW’s on-the-ground reporters are always close to the action, be it covering international events or zooming in on some of the quirks of daily life. Camera always in hand, they report on the changes they see taking place in Germany, Europe and around the world.