Faced with persistent revelations about the scale of illegal gold trafficking in Cameroon, the authorities have decided to toughen their stance.
In an official correspondence dated February 23, 2026, the Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, instructed the urgent establishment of a joint commission of inquiry responsible for shedding light on this clandestine trade.
Adressée au secrétaire d’État auprès du ministre de la Défense, chargé de la gendarmerie nationale, la note relaie les « Très Hautes Instructions » du président de la République, Paul Biya. L’objectif est clair : identifier les réseaux impliqués et établir les responsabilités des différents acteurs soupçonnés de participer à l’exploitation et à l’exportation illégales du métal précieux.
This decision comes in a context marked by the worrying conclusions of the latest report from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which points to significant revenue losses for the State linked to parallel gold marketing circuits.
According to several observers in the mining sector, gold trafficking has for several years been a major challenge for the governance of the country’s natural resources. A significant portion of artisanal production reportedly escapes official circuits, feeding informal export channels.
The announced commission should involve several administrations, notably the defense and security forces, mining services, and judicial authorities. At the end of its work, a detailed report must be transmitted to the Presidency of the Republic for the “Very High Appreciation” of the Head of State.
This initiative could mark a turning point in the fight against illicit practices in the gold sector, as Cameroon seeks to better regulate the exploitation of its mining resources and strengthen transparency in the extractive industries.
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