• Government suspends small-scale mining to reduce accident risk during rains

• Artisanal mining produces 6 tons of gold yearly but is often unsafe

• Most output bypasses official channels, contributing no state revenue

Mali will suspend artisanal gold mining activities from June 15 to September 30, 2025, according to a statement released June 3 by the Ministry of Mines. The measure targets a sector that officially yields 6 tons of gold annually but is plagued by frequent accidents and informal operations.

The government did not cite an official reason in the statement. However, a Ministry source quoted by Reuters said the move is intended to protect miners from seasonal flooding, a major cause of tunnel collapses and fatalities. In January, at least 10 people died in a tunnel flood.

Artisanal mining in Mali has been linked to dozens of deaths in recent months, mainly due to landslides and poor safety conditions. Despite the risks, the sector attracts thousands of workers, many from farming backgrounds or migrant communities seeking income.

Authorities continue to struggle with regulating the industry. A large share of artisanal output remains unrecorded, bypassing formal supply chains and state oversight. According to SWISSAID, Mali produced over 300 tons of gold worth $13.5 billion between 2012 and 2022 from small-scale operations that escaped official monitoring.