Assessment: Joint Cameroon-CAR Strategy May Disrupt Illegal Gold Operations

The illegal gold trade sourced from artisanal mining significantly contributes to crime and violence in the border region between Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR). This gold sector has become a crucial element of the illicit market in the area, fostered by corruption and lax regulatory enforcement.

A report released by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) concerning Cameroon indicates that the country produced 953 kg of gold in 2023, yet only 22 kg were reported as officially exported. The report also highlights that imports from a single nation, the United Arab Emirates, reached 15 tonnes, estimated to be valued at around 539 billion CFA francs ($949 million).

The disparity between the official records of production and exports compared to the volumes of gold imported by trading partners indicates that a large segment of gold mined, particularly from artisanal extraction, circumvents official mechanisms, favoring informal and smuggling routes.

Illegal artisanal mining operations in Cameroon and CAR predominantly target gold and diamonds, with gold output far exceeding both in quantity and significance. It has been integrated into smuggling networks, which armed groups utilize to fund their operations.

Transnational criminal networks are connected to armed factions in CAR, including the 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation), UPC (Union for Peace in the Central African Republic), and the MPC (Central African Patriotic Movement). These groups largely derive their resources from controlling mining sites and taxing the illicit gold trade along transhumance routes.

Exploiting porous borders and the regional instability, these militants engage in localized armed conflicts with CAR security forces and other militias. Although peace accords were established in 2025 between the government and various armed groups, the persistent associations of the latter with the underground economy, mainly illegal gold mining, continue to spur conflict.

Armed factions offer protection to illegal mining activities in border localities like Garoua-Boulaï in eastern Cameroon and Cantonnier in western CAR, which are identified as key transit hubs between the nations. Additionally, insurgents control alternative transit routes that connect CAR to Cameroon and Chad.

Despite existing regulations governing artisanal mining in CAR, numerous miners and traders operate unlawfully without proper permits or in unauthorized locations, bypassing formal trade routes. Field data gathered by the Institute for Security Studies in December 2025 reported that armed groups impose taxes and fees on artisanal miners, gold collectors, and traders in border regions, leading to disputes among local populations, traders, and security forces.

Law enforcement agencies are often criticized for either being passive or colluding in managing these illegal activities. Criminal networks also incorporate covert intermediaries, at times linked to corrupt public officials, who oversee gold supply chains and transport products to global markets through intricate smuggling strategies.

Similar to many other African mining jurisdictions, the governance of the gold sector in CAR and Cameroon is undermined by a high degree of informality and systemic governance challenges. In both nations, these vulnerabilities are exploited by armed groups, organized crime networks, mineral trade middlemen, and governmental officials who either facilitate or turn a blind eye to these infractions. They engage in document forgery, utilize dummy firms, and conspire to obscure their activities and evade sanctions.

The limited capabilities of mining, customs, and security personnel in Cameroon and CAR further exacerbate the issue. Both nations experience hindered regulation enforcement due to graft and the stronghold of political and economic elites.

Mechanisms are in place in both countries for tracking and regulating gold, including the registration of artisanal mining locations, miner identification cards, and records of sales alongside customs declarations. However, the implementation of said protocols is feeble, and differing economic interests from neighboring states obstruct regional cooperation.

The EITI pushes for revenue transparency but faces challenges fulfilling its oversight duties due to deficiencies in technical capacity among national institutions, poor inter-agency collaboration, and the need for cross-border policy alignment.

The complexities of organized crime associated with illegal artisanal gold mining in Cameroon and CAR cannot be remedied by either country acting alone; both should collaborate. Formalizing the sector is frequently regarded as essential for enhancing traceability and curbing illegal operations. Such a move would safeguard workers’ rights and environmental conditions, generate government revenue, and improve state monitoring of gold extraction activities.

Achieving successful formalization is contingent upon three primary components: the execution of the formalization process, whether it includes existing artisanal miners, and the alignment of laws to prevent the emergence of new loopholes that could be exploited.

A comprehensive action plan coordinated between the two nations is vital, targeting four specific areas.

Firstly, there needs to be advancement in the formalization of leading mining sites in eastern Cameroon and CAR, such as Nana-Mambéré, Mambéré-Kadéï, and Sangha-Mbaéré. Pilot projects in these heavily exploited areas could be launched with support from the EITI and the World Bank to demonstrate how to legalize artisanal mining.

Initiatives in Cameroon have been introduced to regulate mining activities, particularly through the enhancement of the Mining Code and the incorporation of environmental responsibilities for operators. Conversely, formalization in CAR is restricted due to security and institutional challenges.

Secondly, the plan calls for bolstering mechanization efforts. With backing from international partners, national mining authorities can organize the provision of equipment and training to boost safety and productivity at formalized sites.

Thirdly, local capacities for resource management need to be improved to mitigate conflict and combat illegal practices. Local authorities, mining cooperatives, and civil society organizations could receive training led by mining authorities, with assistance from development partners.

The final proposed action involves establishing a joint oversight committee comprised of members from both Cameroon and CAR. This committee would facilitate regular information exchange, coordinate activities, and combat illicit trafficking. Collaboration with local stakeholders and regional entities, such as the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, would be essential to enhance the verification of export documents and international cooperation against irregularities.