The audit, which covered 1 153 mining titles, reveals a worrying situation: only 94 applications were deemed admissible, representing a rate of compliance of a paltry 8,15%. The investigators inspected 848 mining sites on the ground, of which 620 had regular administrative documents. But it is the discovery of 228 clandestine exploitation sites that best illustrates the gravity of the situation. To these illegal sites are added 275 inactive titles, revealing a failing management of the country’s mineral resources. The audit brought up to date multiple systemic dysfunctions: exploitation of titles expired for a long time, absence of renewal of authorizations, titles not registered in the mining register, and irregular octrois circumventing the established procedures. The failures do not stop there. De nombreux opérateurs have defaulted on their fiscal obligations, by not paying the taxes and fees due to the State. Even worse, some companies have not respected their contractual commitments, notably in matters of social and environmental responsibility. In the face of this appalling situation, Minister Birame Soulèye Diop announced a major clean-up plan aimed at “protecting at the same time the interests of the State, local communities and operators”.
228 clandestine sites discovered: the mining audit reveals the extent of the dysfunctions
