The government of Cameroon says an investigation into the country’s gold sector has uncovered more than 200 illegal artisanal mining companies, the majority of them reportedly owned by foreign nationals. In a statement released Wednesday, Cameroon’s mines ministry said the illegal operators were identified mainly in the eastern and Adamawa regions, areas known for significant artisanal gold mining activities. “About 200 illegal companies have been identified in the east and Adamawa regions, more than 95 percent of them foreign firms,” the ministry stated. According to a list published by authorities, many of the companies are allegedly linked to Chinese nationals. The government has ordered the firms to immediately stop mining operations, although no sanctions or prosecutions have yet been announced.
The investigation was launched after authorities discovered major discrepancies between Cameroon’s official gold export figures and import records declared by foreign countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates. A 2023 report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative revealed that Cameroon officially declared the production of 953 kilograms of gold, with only 22.3 kilograms exported through official channels. However, importing countries reported receiving about 15.2 tonnes of Cameroonian gold during the same period. Analysts say the gap points to widespread smuggling and informal trading networks operating outside government oversight.
In a March report on organised crime in Central Africa, researcher Aicha Pemboura said the figures suggest that a large portion of artisanal gold production is being diverted through illegal channels. Despite the introduction of a new mining code in 2023 aimed at improving transparency and regulation, experts warn that corruption and political influence continue to weaken enforcement efforts in Cameroon’s mining sector. The latest revelations have renewed concerns over illegal resource exploitation and the loss of state revenue in one of Central Africa’s mineral-rich economies.
