Cameroon has introduced sweeping reforms for its gold mining sector, including a suspension of mining activities and tighter regulations covering both industrial and artisanal operations. The government said the changes are aimed at ending illegal practices that have affected national revenues, environmental safety, and regulatory oversight. In an April 4 statement, the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development said, “The era of fraudulent gold mining in Cameroon is over.”
Conditions for resuming gold operations
Under the new framework, mining companies must meet specific requirements before restarting operations. These include meeting minimum monthly production requirements, transitioning to closed-circuit processing systems within six months, and providing an environmental rehabilitation bond exceeding $112,000. Authorities said the measures are intended to restructure the sector and improve transparency while increasing state revenues.
The government also linked the reforms to efforts to reduce illegal extraction and cross-border smuggling of gold. It said weak oversight in prior years allowed large volumes of gold to leave Cameroon through informal channels, reducing export income.
Discrepancies between reported output and exports
Investigations cited major differences between Cameroon’s reported gold production and official export figures. A 2023 report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), published in December 2025, highlighted a mismatch between production and exports. For 2023, Cameroon reported 953 kg of gold production but only 22.3 kg of official exports.
The report said importing countries received about 15.2 metric tons (15,200 kg) of gold. This was described as a discrepancy of nearly 680 times the official export figure, with researchers pointing to diversion into informal networks or smuggling abroad.
Investigation into trafficking networks and foreign-linked operators
Cameroon moved to enforcement actions after the findings. In February 2026, President Paul Biya ordered a nationwide investigation into illegal gold trafficking networks to identify criminal groups and assign legal responsibility. Authorities later reported that around 200 illegal mining companies were operating in eastern Cameroon and the Adamawa region.
The government said more than 95% of those entities were linked to foreign operators, many of them Chinese-owned. A Ministry of Mines statement dated May 13 said many operations were functioning outside legal frameworks and regulatory oversight.
Raids targeting sites operating despite shutdown orders
In March, acting Mining Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry led coordinated raids with security forces targeting illegal mining sites that continued operating despite government shutdown orders. Authorities seized equipment and impounded vehicles used in unauthorized extraction activities. In April, Chinese mining representatives attended a government briefing where officials outlined new restrictions.
The briefing reinforced the administration’s goal of restructuring the semi-mechanized artisanal mining sector.
Broader regional focus on licensing, tracking and enforcement
The crackdown was described as part of a wider shift across Africa toward tighter control over natural resource extraction. Authorities said governments are moving toward stronger licensing systems, increased environmental oversight, crackdowns on illegal foreign operators, and improved tracking of mineral exports. The reforms were also described as placing pressure on enforcement capacity while aiming to increase long-term public revenues and reduce environmental damage linked to gold mining.
Mercury contamination risks from ore processing
Illegal gold mining was also linked to environmental risks affecting public health. Marcena Hunter, Director of Extractives at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, said pollution from mining operations is becoming a major public health concern. She warned that water contamination can be even more damaging than deforestation.
Hunter said mercury and other chemicals used in ore processing can severely damage ecosystems and public health. She added that mercury pollution from gold extraction can accumulate in rivers, contaminate drinking water, and enter the food chain.
