In response to increasing revelations about illegal gold trafficking in Cameroon, President Paul Biya has ordered the establishment of a joint investigative commission. This decision follows the findings of the 2023 report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and various scandals brought to public attention.
The commission's mission will be to identify the actors and networks involved in the illegal exploitation and marketing of gold, to establish potential administrative, economic, and criminal responsibilities, to analyze the weaknesses in the mining sector's control system, and to formulate recommendations to counter this phenomenon. The National Gendarmerie has been tasked with taking the necessary steps to set up this commission.
The EITI report highlighted issues with the traceability and marketing of gold, including weak control mechanisms, under-reporting of production, and the existence of parallel export channels. These revelations have fueled concerns about the scale of gold trafficking, particularly in mining regions.
Combating illegal gold trafficking is a major challenge for economic governance and transparency in Cameroon's extractive sector. Beyond the financial losses for the state, this trafficking fuels smuggling, criminal networks, and illegal exploitation of natural resources. The establishment of this investigative commission is seen as a desire to shed light on this matter and strengthen the credibility of the Cameroonian mining sector. In 2023, Cameroonian customs declared only 22.3 kg of gold exports, while the United Arab Emirates declared importing 15.2 tons of gold from Cameroon.
