In brief
On 3 November 2026, Guinea announced a total ban on illegal gold mining in the Siguiri region following inspection missions that revealed environmental damage. The government will use a permanent monitoring system involving armed forces, police, customs, and conservation officers, and will conduct inspections to prevent illicit operations. Authorities also urge communities to report illegal mining.
GUINEA – The Guinean government announced a comprehensive ban on illegal and disorderly gold mining activities in the northeastern administrative region of Siguiri on Monday, according to a joint statement signed by several ministers.
The decision follows inspection and assessment missions carried out in recent months, which exposed severe environmental degradation caused by mining activities conducted in violation of existing regulations, the statement said.
Mamadou Aliou Sow, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said the illegal mining had destroyed soil, agricultural land and vegetation due to the use of heavy machinery and had caused pollution and silting of the Niger River, the Tinkisso River and their tributaries.
The statement listed the banned practices, including the use of dredgers, explosives, mercury, cyanide and other chemicals hazardous to the environment at mining sites, as well as mining in riverbeds, riverbanks, agricultural land, grazing areas, protected areas, classified forests, near residential areas and public infrastructure.
To ensure compliance, a permanent monitoring and surveillance system will be deployed in the Siguiri administrative region. The system will involve the armed forces, the national gendarmerie, the national police, customs services and nature conservation officers.
Inspections will also be conducted along road and river routes and at various entry points to the region to prevent the transportation of heavy machinery, dredgers, explosives and chemicals intended for illegal mining activities.
Defense and security forces will verify the identities and residency status of people present at mining sites, and foreign nationals found to be staying in the country illegally will be subjected to procedures prescribed by law, the spokesperson added.
The statement also prohibits any citizen from providing protection, in any capacity, to any individual or legal entity connected with these operations.
Administrative and local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women’s organisations, as well as mining operators, have been urged to cooperate with authorities and report any illegal activities to the relevant services, the statement said, stressing that the measures do not undermine the importance of the gold sector to the national economy.
