According to SWISSAID, illegal artisanal and small-scale mining in Mali produced over 300 tons of gold between 2012 and 2022. This not only results in financial losses but also contributes to insecurity and environmental damage.

The Malian government plans to launch a "relentless fight against illegal mining" of its mineral resources, primarily gold. This was announced after the Council of Ministers meeting on January 22, 2025, where the Minister of Mines discussed existing measures.

While the Council mentioned short-, medium-, and long-term actions, no further details were provided. So far, authorities have dismantled 61 illegal mining sites and seized various equipment, including 286 excavators and 63 vehicles. Mines Minister Amadou Keita stated that heavy machinery is increasingly used in illegal mining, causing significant economic and environmental harm.

"Illegal operators cause enormous damage to the environment, including the destruction of fauna and flora, contamination of watercourses, and contribute to drug, arms, and human trafficking networks, money laundering, and financing terrorism," the government stated.

A Common Issue

The issues linked to illegal mining are not new. Mali estimates annual production from artisanal and small-scale mining (EMAPE) at 6 tonnes of gold, while SWISSAID suggests a more realistic figure of 30 to 57 tonnes per year. In comparison, Mali's declared industrial gold production was 66 tonnes in 2022 and 2023.

According to SWISSAID, Mali produced over 300 tonnes of undeclared EMAPE gold from 2012 to 2022. That is $13.5 billion worth of gold. The issue, which deprives the State of tax revenues, also affects other Sahel countries like Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger.

A 2023 United Nations report linked illegal mining to violent extremist groups that profit from the trade by imposing taxes on mining sites or controlling transport routes.

In coastal countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, illegal mining harms sectors like cocoa. In Ghana alone, illegal mining destroyed over 19,000 hectares of cocoa plantations in 2021, about 2% of the national orchard.

Available Solutions

Mali's current strategy against illegal mining focuses mainly on repression and awareness campaigns. Authorities have seized equipment and arrested several illegal miners. However, experiences from other countries show that repression alone is insufficient.

For instance, Ghana has complemented its crackdown with policies to formalize illegal miners' operations by providing modern equipment and job placement programs. Although these measures have not fully eradicated illegal mining, observers call for greater cooperation among affected states.

According to an ECOWAS report from February 2024, the complex nature of illegal EMAPE makes individual country efforts ineffective. The report recommends that West African states enhance coordination among mining stakeholders, traders, donors, and law enforcement for better regional cooperation.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou  

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho