Yaoundé is once again the epicenter of a political storm as allegations of gold trafficking shake the foundations of the country’s mining sector. The controversy centers on a staggering discrepancy in gold export figures, with the Cameroonian government’s official declarations falling dramatically short of documented records from international partners.
government denials and rising skepticism
In a high-stakes press conference held in Yaoundé on July 15, 2026, the acting Minister of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, alongside the Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi, vehemently denied the loss or disappearance of gold belonging to the Cameroonian state. The officials attributed the current crisis not to embezzlement but to widespread fraud by private operators who underreport the volume of gold extracted.
This position comes in response to revelations of a colossal tax shortfall, estimated at nearly 2,000 billion FCFA, linked to the illicit trafficking of gold. The government’s explanation has done little to quell public outrage, as critics point to a glaring disparity between Cameroon’s reported gold exports and the figures recorded by foreign customs authorities.
the itie report: a damning discrepancy
Data from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ITIE) has cast a harsh spotlight on the issue. For 2023, Cameroon reported just 22 kilograms of gold exported, a figure starkly contrasted by the 15 tonnes recorded by the customs authorities of the United Arab Emirates. This gap raises serious questions about the scale of gold leaving the country through unofficial channels.
The National Mining Company (Sonamines) estimates that between 2021 and 2025, approximately 44 tonnes of gold evaded formal channels, slipping through the cracks of Cameroon’s regulatory framework. This represents a significant loss to the state, both in terms of revenue and control over its natural resources.
proposed reforms and expert intervention
In an attempt to curb the trafficking and restore integrity to the gold sector, Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry announced a series of immediate reforms. A dedicated task force, comprising officials from Sonamines, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), and the General Directorate of Customs (DGD), will be deployed to production sites across the country. Their mission: to conduct on-the-ground inspections and verify the accuracy of mining activities.
Additionally, the government plans to enlist an international expert to assess the true potential of the country’s gold deposits. This expert will also impose a minimum independent taxation, decoupled from the declarations made by mining operators. The goal is to ensure that the state receives its fair share of revenue, free from manipulation or underreporting.
me sikati’s fiery response
Opposition figure and legal scholar Me Désiré Sikati has been vocal in his criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis. In a scathing statement, he accused certain ministers of engaging in what he termed ‘magical tricks’ to obscure the truth. Sikati, a member of the political bureau of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), challenged the minister’s denial of the gold’s disappearance, questioning who, if not the state, owns the missing gold.
Sikati highlighted the contradictions in the government’s narrative, pointing out that the Cameroonian Mining Code clearly states that all subsoil minerals, including gold, belong to the state. He questioned whether the minister considered the possibility that some might believe the gold belongs to private individuals, despite the legal framework. His remarks underscore a deepening divide between the government’s official stance and public skepticism.
The gold trafficking scandal continues to unravel, exposing vulnerabilities in Cameroon’s mining sector and raising concerns about governance, transparency, and accountability. As the government rolls out its reform plans, the nation watches closely to see whether these measures will bring much-needed clarity—or if the ‘magic tricks’ will persist.