Côte d’Ivoire Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining, Seizes Over $12m Worth of Stolen Ore

The President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, chaired a meeting at the Palais de la Présidence to discuss the country’s overall security situation. The Council National de Sécurité (CNS) expressed satisfaction with the results in the fight against illegal gold mining thanks to the efforts of the Groupement spécial de lutte contre l’orpaillage illégal (GS-LOI), created in 2021.

The report covers the period from 2021 to the first half of 2026 and states that over 8,500 sites of illegal gold mining have been dismantled nationwide. The GS-LOI operations also led to the arrest of 4,474 individuals, with 65% being foreign nationals, the seizure of over $12 million worth of stolen gold, and the confiscation of approximately 136 kilograms of gold.

Despite these encouraging results, the CNS lamented the persistence and even expansion of illegal gold mining in several regions of the country.

The CNS considers this activity to be a serious threat due to its impact on the environment, national security, natural resources, and the Ivorian economy.

To tackle this situation, President Ouattara instructed the Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, to take all necessary measures to intensify the fight against this phenomenon.

The main orientations retained include strengthening the responsibility of administrative, traditional, and customary authorities as well as security forces, particularly through departmental security committees (CDS) and civil-military cells (CCM), under the authority of prefects.

President Ouattara also urged a closer collaboration with diplomatic representations of countries of origin for foreign illegal gold miners to enhance awareness-raising efforts and facilitate the repatriation of those involved.

The CNS insisted on the rigorous application of repressive texts against anyone involved in this activity. The Prime Minister was tasked with presenting, as soon as possible, a communication to the Council of Ministers on strengthening the national device for fighting illegal gold mining.

The CNS decided to increase the operational capabilities of the GS-LOI and those of security units intervening in coordination with this group.

According to the CNS, these new orientations demonstrate the Ivorian authorities’ willingness to toughen their fight against illegal gold mining to preserve natural resources, protect the environment, ensure national security, and promote economic development.