West African artisanal gold mining regulation

West African nations are grappling with the complexities of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, driven by high global gold prices. Initially, the surge in unregulated extraction has caused significant economic and environmental crises, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. In Côte d'Ivoire, the illegal mining workforce is largely composed of foreigners, with estimates suggesting between 70% and 95% of miners originate from other West African nations. This unregulated activity has led to deforestation, soil erosion, and water contamination from mercury use.

In response to these challenges and the economic scale of the sector—which the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates involves up to 150 million people—regional governments are shifting toward formalization and increased oversight. Côte d'Ivoire has established an ambitious goal to become Africa's leading gold producer by 2035, focusing on expanding mining capacities and organizing artisanal exploitation. This includes plans by the Société ivoirienne des métaux précieux (SIMEP) to launch a refining unit in early 2027. Similar regulatory efforts are being prioritized across Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Tanzania to mitigate risks such as unsafe working conditions and smuggling.