Senegal begins securing artisanal gold mining zones in Kédougou

The ministers of Mines and Geology and the Armed Forces signed a protocol in Dakar to secure seven artisanal gold mining corridors in Kédougou and Tambacounda.

This initiative aims to organize the artisanal mining sector while improving safety and traceability. The military engineering unit will spend two years delimiting and fencing the sites with galvanized wire and security measures.

Each site will cover approximately one square kilometer and include infrastructure such as solar installations, water wells, toilets, and nurseries for women working on the sites. The government plans to formalize at least half of the mining actors by 2029. The program targets a population of miners that the minister of Mines says has grown significantly beyond 31,000 people. Work will begin on three sites in Kédougou named Ngary, Kaviar, and Sekhoto.

The remaining four corridors will await technical and environmental approvals.