The Ivorian government has escalated its campaign against illegal gold panning by deploying an arsenal of advanced equipment. A fleet of 300 motorcycles, 30 pickup trucks, 12 Zodiac boats, and drones has been allocated to the Special Gold Panning Control Unit (GS-LOI), established in 2021 to tackle this persistent issue.
Security crisis drives tougher measures
Fidèle Sarassoro, Executive Secretary of the National Security Council, has labeled the crackdown on illegal gold mining a “national security imperative.” The intensified operations aim to enhance surveillance and mapping of clandestine mining sites both on land and water, day and night.
The recent legislative push reflects Abidjan’s commitment to combating this scourge. A revised penal code now imposes stiffer penalties: fines ranging from 50 to 100 million FCFA and prison sentences between 2 and 5 years for offenders. When public officials are involved, sentences can escalate to 20 years behind bars.
Strategic upgrades to enforcement
The GS-LOI’s enhanced capabilities—mobility, night-vision technology, and aerial reconnaissance—are designed to dismantle illegal mining networks across Côte d’Ivoire. By leveraging these tools, authorities seek to curb environmental degradation, financial crimes, and the violence often linked to unregulated gold extraction.
This sweeping enforcement strategy underscores Abidjan’s resolve to restore order in gold-rich regions while aligning with broader pan-African efforts to formalize artisanal mining and promote sustainable economic practices.
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