The artisanal mining sector in Cameroon is facing unprecedented strain. The National Mining Company (SONAMINES), the state body responsible for the commercialisation of gold and diamonds, has halted the issuance and renewal of licences for certain purchasing offices. This abrupt measure has sparked tensions within the industry and drawn sharp criticism from the National Syndicate of Diamond, Gold and Artisanal Miners’ Office Promoters of Cameroon (SYNAPROBADIOCAM).
Led by Ousmanou Aladji Hamadou, the syndicate is urgently calling for the resumption of administrative procedures. Nearly 200 purchasing offices, according to the union, are now unable to operate legally due to the absence of valid licences. This regulatory vacuum, they argue, is driving the precious metals extracted in Cameroon into informal and untaxed channels.
Administrative freeze triggers unintended consequences
The suspension imposed by SONAMINES was intended to tighten oversight over an artisanal sector known for its porous controls. Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story. Without authorised channels, gold produced by artisanal miners is leaving the country through informal routes, slipping through fiscal and production monitoring systems.
The union estimates that several hundred operators—both established purchasing offices and those seeking formalisation—are affected. These professionals, denied legal market access, are either forced to suspend operations or turn to grey-market channels. While the financial loss to the Cameroonian Treasury is difficult to quantify, the erosion of traceability mechanisms undermines Yaoundé’s stated goal of tightening oversight.
Cameroon is not alone in this challenge. Across Central Africa, from the Congo to the Central African Republic, countries struggle to bring artisanal gold flows into regulated circuits. Cross-border smuggling thrives, driven by disparities in tax regimes and regulatory grey areas, diverting a significant share of regional production.
SONAMINES under fire for its central role
Established to streamline mineral governance and centralise the trade of precious metals, SONAMINES holds a pivotal position in the sector’s architecture. It is tasked with ensuring the state maintains a right of first refusal on gold and diamonds produced, while structuring relations with private purchasing offices. Yet the company now finds itself at the heart of controversy each time it suspends licence issuance.
Union representatives argue the freeze carries a dual penalty: it strips operators of their livelihoods and leaves artisanal miners—often in the East, Adamawa or North regions—without buyers. Without official outlets, miners are compelled to sell to informal or foreign buyers who export the resource without contributing to Cameroon’s fiscal base.
Balancing formalisation with operational viability
SYNAPROBADIOCAM is demanding structured dialogue with mining authorities and SONAMINES. Their dual goal: resume licence issuance within a clear framework, and establish controls that do not suffocate legitimate operators. The union emphasises the economic rationale, noting that formalising 200 purchasing offices would expand fiscal entry points and strengthen traceability across the supply chain.
The issue extends beyond corporate interests. It challenges Cameroon’s broader strategy to diversify its extractive economy, long dominated by hydrocarbons. Properly regulated artisanal gold could become a significant contributor to public revenue and a driver of rural employment.
The question remains: will SONAMINES and the Ministry of Mines ease the freeze conditionally or tighten licence criteria further? Either way, the credibility of the national commercialisation system hinges on the government’s ability to balance regulatory rigour with operational fluidity.