In brief
On November 3, 2026, Guinea’s government declared a comprehensive ban on illegal gold mining in the Siguiri region, citing soil destruction, river pollution and the use of hazardous chemicals. The ban will be enforced through a permanent monitoring system involving armed forces, police, customs, and conservation officers. Local communities are urged to report illicit activities to authorities.
In a joint statement signed by several government ministers on Monday, the Guinean government announced a complete ban on illegal and disorderly gold‑mining activities in the northeastern Siguiri administrative region.
Mamadou Aliou Sow, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, explained that inspections in recent months revealed severe environmental degradation, including the destruction of soil, agricultural land, and vegetation by heavy machinery and the pollution and silting of the Niger and Tinkisso rivers.
The statement denounced the use of dredgers, explosives, mercury, cyanide and other hazardous chemicals at mining sites, noting that mining is strictly prohibited in riverbeds, along riverbanks, on agricultural land, grazing areas, protected zones, and near residential or public infrastructure.
To enforce the ban, a permanent monitoring and surveillance system will be deployed, involving the armed forces, national gendarmerie, police, customs and nature‑conservation officers. Inspections will occur along roads, rivers, and entry points to prevent the transport of heavy machinery, dredgers, explosives, and chemicals.
Administrative and local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women’s organisations, and mining operators are called on to cooperate with authorities and report any illegal activities. The spokesperson said citizens are prohibited from providing protection, in any capacity, to individuals or entities involved in illegal mining.
All statements presented come from the Xinhua‑reported joint government declaration; no unconfirmed details have been reported to date.
