Cameroon cracks down on illegal gold mining

Cameroonian authorities have begun taking strict measures against illegal gold mining, which must be adhered to before suspended activities can be allowed to resume in the mineral-rich eastern region.

Business Inside Africa, a platform specializing in African affairs, revealed that the new measures require mining companies to pay environmental insurance worth 63 million African francs (more than $100,000), commit to monthly production targets, and switch to closed processing systems within 6 months.

illegal excavation

Cameroon is waging a broad campaign to shut down sites that violate the country's mining law, as part of government efforts to curb illegal and environmentally harmful activities.

The new conditions were revealed after a meeting in the capital, Yaoundé, which included the interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Foh Calestus Gentre, and the Chinese diplomat Li Jianhua, political counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Cameroon.

A necessary commitment to legal frameworks

The minister said that the closure of illegal mining sites does not target Chinese companies alone, stressing that all operators, regardless of nationality, must adhere to the same legal framework.

The Cameroonian government says these reforms aim to create a more transparent and responsible mining environment, and to ensure the state benefits more from gold resources through taxes, royalties, and environmental standards.

According to observers, these measures reveal a growing trend in a number of resource-rich African economies.

They point out that governments have begun to impose stricter regulations on the mining sector, especially on foreign companies operating in unregulated or semi-official sectors.

Environmental protection

Artisanal and semi-organized mining in Cameroon is one of the sectors that suffers from very weak tax collection and environmental protection, but the new financial requirement is high, as environmental insurance may pose a major obstacle for small companies or those unable to provide the necessary financing.

For its part, the Chinese authorities, through Li Jianhua, stressed that companies must fully comply with local laws, while supporting Cameroon’s efforts to regulate the sector.

Meanwhile, Minister Vo Kalestos Gentre gave Chinese authorities one week to warn their citizens who are working illegally in the mining sector.