Cameroon’s national mining authority, Sonamines, is tightening its grip on gold operators across the country. Following a recent inspection sweep in the Adamaoua and East regions—key hubs for artisanal and semi-mechanized gold mining—Director General Serge Hervé Boyogueno delivered a blunt assessment of the sector’s shortcomings. Many operators are underperforming against production targets, while others face insolvency. Environmental violations and murky trade channels further erode the state’s control over the gold industry.
On-the-ground inspections expose systemic weaknesses in gold mining
The two regions surveyed account for the bulk of Cameroon’s gold output, relying on a mix of semi-mechanized companies and individual miners. Sonamines’ field mission aimed to verify whether permit holders were meeting their contractual and regulatory obligations. The findings, as outlined by the director general, reveal a persistent gap between the commitments made during licensing and the actual performance on the ground.
Numerous operators are falling short of their mandated production levels. Some are also financially insolvent, failing to meet obligations to the state and its agencies. On this issue, the Sonamines chief defers to the Ministry of Mines, the only body authorized to suspend or revoke permits. The state-run mining agency thus acts as the technical watchdog, leaving political authorities to enforce disciplinary measures.
Triple challenges: finances, environment, and trade opacity
Beyond financial concerns, the inspection uncovered serious environmental lapses. Issues such as inadequate site restoration, improper handling of mercury- and cyanide-laden wastewater, and insecure extraction zones pose serious health risks to nearby communities. These failures also threaten the long-term sustainability of an industry that plays an increasingly vital role in the local economies of East and Adamaoua.
A second major concern is the smuggling of gold. A substantial portion of mined gold bypasses official channels, feeding regional black markets and depriving the national treasury of revenue while undermining metal traceability. This opacity, long flagged by industry observers, undermines Cameroon’s stated goal of asserting mineral sovereignty. Sonamines now plans to strengthen reporting requirements and expand the network of licensed collection points to curb these irregularities.
Building a national gold reserve for economic resilience
The most ambitious goal set by Sonamines is the creation of a national strategic gold reserve. Modeled after initiatives in other African central banks, this plan would give Cameroon a metallic asset to support monetary policy and provide a buffer against external shocks. The strategy aligns with similar efforts by neighboring gold-producing countries seeking to maximize the value of their own resources.
For this vision to succeed, Sonamines must secure a significant share of national production through its channels. This requires cleaning up the operator landscape, offering competitive purchase prices compared to informal buyers, and coordinating closely with security forces and customs along border corridors. Decisions from the Ministry of Mines on how to handle non-compliant operators will be pivotal in determining the pace and impact of reforms.
The implementation phase of Cameroon’s mining reforms promises to be complex. It must balance strict contract enforcement, support for the informal employment it sustains, and the drive to integrate gold into a framework of financial sovereignty. While no official timeline has been released, the findings from Sonamines’ mission are expected to shape the next policy directives. The director general has indicated that additional inspections will be conducted in other mining basins in the coming period.
