The Cameroonian artisanal mining sector is facing a critical impasse. The national mining company, SONAMINES, has halted the issuance and renewal of purchasing licenses for gold and diamond dealers, triggering widespread discontent among industry players. The decision has particularly riled the National Union of Gold and Diamond Buyers and Artisanal Miners (SYNAPROBADIOCAM), whose leader, Ousmanou Aladji Hamadou, is urging authorities to expedite administrative processes.
According to the union, nearly 200 licensed buyers are now unable to operate legally, leaving the sector vulnerable to unregulated trade. This regulatory vacuum, they argue, only strengthens illicit gold trading networks across the country. With no official channels available, artisanal miners in regions like the East, Adamawa, and North are forced to sell their gold through unofficial buyers—often foreign traders—who export the resource without contributing to Cameroon’s tax revenue.
Administration freeze sparks unintended consequences
The SONAMINES suspension was intended to tighten oversight of a historically unregulated sector. Instead, the move has pushed more transactions into the shadows. Without legal avenues to sell their gold, miners are either forced to wait indefinitely or shift to informal markets, undermining both fiscal collection and the government’s efforts to track production.
The union estimates that hundreds of buyers—both established and aspiring—are now caught in administrative limbo. While the exact financial loss remains unquantified, the situation weakens Cameroon’s mining governance framework, which is already struggling to formalize artisanal gold production. The country is not alone in this challenge; neighboring Central African nations face similar struggles in curbing cross-border gold smuggling driven by regulatory gaps and tax disparities.
SONAMINES under scrutiny for its regulatory role
Established to streamline mineral trade and centralize the sale of gold and diamonds, SONAMINES holds a pivotal position in Cameroon’s mining sector. It is tasked with ensuring state preemption rights on precious metals while maintaining structured oversight of private buyers. However, its recent decision to freeze licenses has drawn sharp criticism, with union leaders warning of severe economic and social repercussions.
The halt in licensing not only cripples licensed buyers but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of thousands of artisanal miners in rural areas. Many of these miners rely on official buyers to sell their output. Without these channels, they are left with no choice but to engage with unregulated traders who export gold out of the country without contributing to national revenues.
Balancing regulation and economic viability
SYNAPROBADIOCAM is calling for urgent dialogue with mining authorities to resume license issuance under clearer guidelines. The union highlights that formalizing 200 buyers would not only boost fiscal collections but also improve traceability across the gold supply chain. More broadly, the issue reflects Cameroon’s broader economic strategy, which aims to diversify beyond hydrocarbons by leveraging its mineral resources—artisanal gold included.
Whether authorities opt to lift the freeze partially or impose stricter criteria remains uncertain. Either way, the credibility of Cameroon’s mineral trade framework hinges on finding a balance between stringent regulation and operational efficiency. Industry sources indicate ongoing discussions between the union and government officials to resolve the impasse.
