Cameroon has introduced sweeping reforms aimed at restoring control over its gold mining sector, ordering a suspension of mining activities and tightening regulations on both industrial and artisanal operations—many of which have been dominated by foreign companies, particularly Chinese operators. The government says the move marks a decisive break with illegal practices that have long undermined national revenues, environmental safety, and regulatory oversight.
“The era of fraudulent gold mining in Cameroon is over,” the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development said in an April 4 statement.
New Mining Rules Tighten Control Over Gold Production
Under the new framework, mining companies must meet strict conditions before operations can resume. These include:
- Meeting minimum monthly production requirements
- Transitioning to closed-circuit processing systems within six months
- Paying an environmental rehabilitation bond exceeding $112,000
Authorities say the reforms are designed to restructure the sector, improve transparency, and increase state revenues while reducing illegal extraction and cross-border smuggling of gold. Officials argue that weak oversight in previous years allowed large volumes of gold to leave the country through informal channels, depriving Cameroon of critical export income.
Massive Gap Between Reported Gold Output and Exports
Investigations have highlighted major discrepancies in Cameroon’s gold trade data.
A 2023 report from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)—published in December 2025—revealed a striking mismatch between production and export figures.
In 2023, Cameroon reported:
- 953 kg of gold production
- Only 22.3 kg of official exports
Importing countries reported receiving approximately:
- 15.2 metric tons (15,200 kg) of gold
This represents a discrepancy of nearly 680 times the official export figure. Researchers say this gap strongly indicates that a significant share of gold production, especially from artisanal mines, is diverted into informal networks or smuggled abroad.
Illegal Mining Networks Under Investigation
Cameroon’s government has stepped up enforcement actions in response to 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, with more than 95% linked to foreign entities, many of them Chinese-owned. A Ministry of Mines statement on May 13 confirmed that many of these operations had been functioning outside legal frameworks and regulatory oversight.
Military-Backed Raids and Shutdown Enforcement
In March, acting Mining Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry led coordinated raids involving security forces targeting illegal mining sites that had continued operations 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 and reinforced the administration’s goal of fully restructuring the semi-mechanized artisanal mining sector.
Part of a Wider African Mining Regulation Shift
Cameroon’s crackdown reflects a broader trend across Africa, where governments are increasingly tightening control over natural resource extraction—particularly in sectors vulnerable to informal activity and foreign exploitation.
Authorities across the continent are moving toward:
- Stronger licensing systems
- Increased environmental oversight
- Crackdowns on illegal foreign operators
- Improved tracking of mineral exports
While these reforms place pressure on enforcement capacity, they are also expected to increase long-term public revenues and reduce environmental damage linked to gold mining.
Environmental Risks: Mercury Pollution and Water Contamination
Beyond economic losses, illegal gold mining poses severe environmental risks. According to Marcena Hunter, Director of Extractives at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, pollution from mining operations is becoming a major public health concern.
While deforestation is widely recognized as a consequence of illegal mining, she warns that water contamination is often even more damaging. “Threats to waterways are arguably the greater direct impact,” Hunter said. “Mercury and other chemicals used in ore processing can severely damage ecosystems and public health.” Mercury pollution from gold extraction can accumulate in rivers, contaminate drinking water, and enter the food chain.
