Editor’s Note
This article examines the troubling intersection of global luxury demand and local conflict. As rubies gain value on the international market, we look at the human cost near the world’s largest source in Mozambique, where communities are displaced by violence.
Rubies are increasingly coveted in the international gemstone market. The world’s largest mine is located in northern Mozambique, where thousands of people are fleeing from Islamist militias.
The mine’s own stance is clear: they pay their taxes properly, and with that money, the central government of Mozambique should build schools in the region, provide security, and fight poverty.
Meanwhile, some locals continue to try to enter the mine illegally to extract rubies themselves. Apparently, violent clashes with the mine’s security personnel have already been recorded. Are rubies a blessing or a curse? Adrian Kriesch sets out to find an answer.