In brief
Guinea’s government has outlawed illegal gold mining in Siguiri after inspections revealed serious environmental damage. The ban will be enforced through a permanent monitoring system that involves armed forces, police, and conservation officers, and local residents are urged to report illicit activity. The move targets the use of heavy machinery, chemicals, and dredgers that harm soil, rivers, and forests.
Conakry, Nov. 3 – Guinea announced a total ban on illegal and disorderly gold mining in the Siguiri region, a northeastern administrative zone. The decision followed recent inspections that found severe environmental damage caused by unregulated mining operations.
According to the government spokesperson, Mamadou Aliou Sow, the illegal activities destroyed soil, agricultural land and vegetation. Heavy machinery and the use of dredgers, explosives, mercury, cyanide and other hazardous chemicals were cited as major polluters of the Niger and Tinkisso rivers and their tributaries. Siguiri’s riverbeds, riverbanks, agricultural lands and protected areas were listed as strictly prohibited zones for mining.
To enforce the ban, a permanent monitoring and surveillance system will be deployed. The armed forces, the national gendarmerie, police, customs services and nature conservation officers will conduct inspections along road and river routes, and at various entry points to stop the transport of mining equipment and chemicals. The government will also verify the identities of people at mine sites, and foreign nationals illegally staying in the country will be subject to legal procedures.
Local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women’s organizations, and mining operators are being asked to cooperate and report any illegal activity. The ban is aimed at protecting the environment and ensuring that the gold sector remains sustainable and compliant with national and environmental laws.
