Malian authorities are set to tighten oversight of gold prospecting amid rising levels of illegal exports.
A government source said foreign and local actors are exploiting the security crisis to conduct unauthorized mining activities, prompting plans for stricter measures.
The move follows the government’s earlier decision to cancel artisanal licenses granted to foreign miners in some regions, aimed at protecting national resources.
Economist Ibrahim Coulibaly warned that illegal mining is draining Africa’s gold wealth, adding that armed groups’ control of certain areas makes enforcement far more difficult than in countries like Ghana or Chad.
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