Ivory Coast destroys 95 dredgers in crackdown on illegal gold mining
Ivory Coast’s gendarmerie destroyed 95 dredgers and 56 crushers during a four-day operation targeting illegal gold mining in the Soubré area.
Ivory Coast’s national gendarmerie has destroyed dozens of illegal mining installations during a four-day operation targeting unauthorised gold panning sites in the Soubré area. The operation, conducted from 7 to 10 July, focused on locations along the Sassandra River in Konédougou and Gnamangui, where security forces dismantled equipment used for illegal gold extraction.
The joint operation involved the Soubré Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron, the Special Group for the Fight against Illegal Gold Panning and the Soubré Company. Authorities destroyed 95 dredgers, 56 crushers, 189 makeshift shelters, 114 washing mats, 62 fuel containers and 25 basins used in mining activities. They also seized three motor pumps and two compressors.
The latest crackdown forms part of the government’s broader campaign to curb illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental degradation, water pollution and loss of state revenue. Authorities have pledged to sustain enforcement efforts to protect natural resources and restore order in affected communities.
The Nigerian stake is clear. Illegal mining is a major problem in Nigeria as well, particularly in states like Zamfara, Osun and Kogi. The environmental and social costs are significant: water pollution, deforestation, health hazards and loss of government revenue. The Nigerian government has struggled to contain the problem, with limited success.
From a Nigerian vantage point, Ivory Coast’s operation is a reminder that enforcement is possible when there is political will. Nigeria’s own efforts to curb illegal mining have been hampered by corruption, weak enforcement and the involvement of powerful interests. If the Ivory Coast can destroy 95 dredgers in four days, Nigeria can do more than it is currently doing.
This echoes the 2020 crackdown on illegal mining in Ghana, which also involved the destruction of equipment and the arrest of operators. The mechanism was different then, but the result was the same: a government taking decisive action to protect its resources.
The winners: the Ivorian government, which has demonstrated its commitment to enforcement; the environment, which benefits from reduced illegal activity; and the state treasury, which gains from increased legal mining revenue. The losers: illegal miners, who have lost their equipment, and the Nigerian government, which has not matched Ivory Coast’s enforcement efforts.
Bottom Line: Ivory Coast destroyed 95 dredgers in four days. Nigeria has been talking about illegal mining for years. The contrast is stark. The question is whether Nigeria will act.