• Cameroon to revoke non-compliant artisanal gold mining permits

• Operators must meet environmental, reporting requirements or close

• Export data gaps highlight large-scale gold smuggling concerns

The Cameroonian government is stepping up oversight of gold production. In a statement issued on Feb. 9, the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development announced the withdrawal of permits for semi-mechanized artisanal mining operators who have failed to comply with administrative and environmental requirements under the December 2023 Mining Code. The measure will take effect on Feb. 20, 2026.

The decision follows a meeting on Jan. 21, 2026, between the ministry, the National Mining Company (Sonamines) and industry representatives. Operators were given 15 days to pay site rehabilitation bonds and sign formal operating agreements. The deadline has since expired, according to the ministry. Non-compliant sites will be closed and their permits revoked under Article 168 (2) of the Mining Code.

The move goes beyond routine enforcement. Yaoundé is seeking to reassert control over a sector long dominated by informal activity. Operators still in compliance must install a closed-circuit processing system within three months or partner with an entity that already operates one. They must also submit a preliminary feasibility study detailing average ore grades and minimum production thresholds. The objective is to verify reported output against actual production and improve estimates of expected tax revenues.

Night Work Ban

The ministry is also tightening pre-operational controls. Any new artisanal mining application must first obtain site access authorization from the regional mining authority to conduct technical surveys. The ministry reiterated the ban on night work and on artisanal mining within exploration permit areas.

The measures reflect broader concern over the large volumes of gold leaving official channels. For decades, domestic gold production contributed little to public finances. From independence through the 2000s, national gold reserves amounted to just 37 kg. More recently, around 1.5 tons have been transferred to the Treasury, an improvement but still modest relative to estimated production potential.

The government now aims to strengthen revenue collection from the sector, particularly the 25% composite tax and the 5% export levy calculated on actual output. Negotiations are reportedly underway with private partners to organize gold collection directly at mining sites. The reform also addresses security concerns. Semi-mechanized artisanal mining has been identified as a conduit for smuggling, environmental degradation and, in some cases, local tensions over control of deposits.

The discrepancy between national export data and international trade statistics remains central to the government’s argument. The 2023 EITI report shows that, according to official Customs data, only 22.3 kg of gold were exported in 2023. This compares with figures from the United Arab Emirates, the main destination for Cameroonian gold, which report imports of 15.2 tons from Cameroon during the same period. According to the report reviewed by Business in Cameroon, more than 90% of that volume was shipped to the Emirates.

Amina Malloum, with Business in Cameroon