Ivory Coast: 8,500 illegal gold mining sites cleared, the phenomenon is spreading

During the same period, the Special Group for the Fight Against Illegal Gold Mining (GS-LOI) brought 4,474 individuals before the judiciary, with 65% being foreigners, according to the official statement. The document does not specify their nationality or the judicial outcomes of the proceedings.

The operations also resulted in the seizure of more than 960 million CFA francs and approximately 136 kilograms of gold, as well as the confiscation or destruction of various equipment and materials. The CNS presents this data as a “non-exhaustive” report from the Group established in 2021.

These figures describe the actions of the authorities and do not constitute an estimate of all the gold extracted or illegally traded. The statement also does not quantify the tax losses or the volumes that may have escaped seizure.

The government urged to strengthen the response

President Alassane Ouattara has instructed the Prime Minister to enhance the state’s response. The announced measures include holding local authorities and security forces accountable, applying legal frameworks to individuals or entities involved, and increasing the operational capacities of the GS-LOI.

The CNS also calls for increased collaboration with the diplomatic representations of the countries of origin of foreign gold miners, in order to strengthen awareness and organize the repatriation of involved nationals. A governmental communication on the application of the repressive measures must be prepared in the Council of Ministers.

Radio France Internationale, in a report published on July 25, 2026, cross-referenced the key figures from the statement and reported that illegal gold mining continued to gain ground. Ivorian authorities classify the phenomenon among the threats impacting both the environment, national security, and the economy.

Damage to be mapped

The Ivorian Ministry of the Environment indicated in February 2026 that 29 of the 31 regions of the country were affected by illegal gold mining. It launched in Daoukro, in collaboration with the Abidjan Legacy Program and financial support from the Economic Community of West African States, a project aimed at mapping and rehabilitating degraded lands.

Another initiative for mapping and restoring clandestine sites was launched in May 2026 in Bouaflé, in the Marahoué region, with the NGO Act for the Environment in Extractive Industries. It aims to identify priority areas and prepare actions for the rehabilitation of affected ecosystems.