• A prospector shows a sample of gold near the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A prospector shows a sample of gold near the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • A prospector takes a break at the open pit at Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A prospector takes a break at the open pit at Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • Prospectors sell their collected samples of gold near the open pit at Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    Prospectors sell their collected samples of gold near the open pit at Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • A boy cleans a shovel before panning for gold near the open pit Ndassima at the gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A boy cleans a shovel before panning for gold near the open pit Ndassima at the gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • A former Seleka soldier looks at prospectors washing extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A former Seleka soldier looks at prospectors washing extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • Prospectors wash extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    Prospectors wash extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • A prospector sits on sacks containing rocks, sand and possible samples of gold extracted from the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A prospector sits on sacks containing rocks, sand and possible samples of gold extracted from the open pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • Prospectors work at an open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    Prospectors work at an open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • Prospectors work at an open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    Prospectors work at an open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • A prospector washes extracted soil and small rocks as he pans for gold at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    A prospector washes extracted soil and small rocks as he pans for gold at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
  • Prospectors wash extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters
    Prospectors wash extracted soil and small rocks as they pan for gold near the open-pit at the Ndassima gold mine. Siegfried Modola / Reuters

In pictures: Mining in the time of conflict


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The Central African Republic, a former French colony, is one of the poorest, least developed and highly unstable countries in the world despite being rich in gold and diamonds.

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
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