More than 8,500 illegal gold mines dismantled in under six years
The President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, presided over a meeting of the National Security Council (CNS) at the Palace of the Presidency on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to discuss the general security situation in the country. During this session, the CNS was particularly pleased with the results achieved in the fight against illegal gold mining thanks to the actions of the Group for Specialized Counter-Illegal Mining (GS-LOI), created in 2021.
The report presented covers the period from 2021 to the first half of 2026 and states that more than 8,500 sites of illegal gold mining have been dismantled across the entire national territory. The operations conducted by the GS-LOI also allowed for the arrest of 4,474 individuals, including 65% foreigners, the seizure of over 960 million CFA francs, and approximately 136 kilograms of gold. Several mining equipment and tools used in this illicit activity have also been confiscated and destroyed.
Despite these encouraging results, the CNS lamented the persistence and even expansion of illegal gold mining in several regions of the country.
The CNS believes that this activity continues to pose a serious threat due to its impact on the environment, national security, natural resources, and the Ivorian economy.
To address this situation, the Head of State instructed the Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, to take all necessary measures to intensify the fight against this phenomenon.
Among the main orientations retained was the strengthening of the responsibility of administrative authorities, traditional and customary bodies, as well as security forces, particularly through the Departmental Security Committees (CDS) and Civil-Military Cells (CCM), placed under the authority of prefects.
The President also requested an increased collaboration with diplomatic representations of countries of origin of illicit gold miners to strengthen awareness-raising activities and facilitate the repatriation of those involved.
The CNS insisted on the strict application of repressive texts against anyone physically or morally implicated in this activity. The Prime Minister was charged with presenting, at the earliest opportunity, a communication to the Council of Ministers on the strengthening of the national device for combating illegal gold mining.
The CNS decided to increase the operational capabilities of the GS-LOI as well as those of security units intervening in coordination with this group.
According to the CNS, through these new orientations, Ivorian authorities demonstrate their willingness to harden the fight against illegal gold mining in order to preserve natural resources, protect the environment, ensure national security and guarantee economic development.