A pivotal meeting was convened on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Ministry of Commerce to address the urgent need for reform in Cameroon’s gold sector.

An important working session focusing on the restructuring of the gold industry and enhancing gold traceability was held this Tuesday, July 14, 2026, within the conference facilities of the Ministry of Commerce. This gathering underscores the government’s commitment to tackling the rampant issues within the sector.

The deliberations were chaired by Pr Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Minister ad interim for Mines, Industry, and Technological Development. In attendance were numerous senior administrative figures, including the Director General of Customs, the Director General of Taxes, the Director General of the Treasury, the Director General of SONAMINES, the Permanent Secretary of the SNPPK, and other key officials from MINMIDT. This broad representation highlights the multi-faceted approach being adopted to combat the challenges.

Judicial and Economic Offensive Underway

Central to the discussions were strategies to bolster the traceability of gold, revamp the entire gold value chain, and foster improved coordination among various government agencies involved in managing this critical economic sector. Participants emphasized that this concerted effort marks a new era of collaboration between institutions, aiming to achieve several vital objectives: optimizing the collection of fiscal revenues, dismantling informal gold trading networks, and significantly increasing state income derived from gold exploitation.

This high-level meeting takes place amidst escalating initiatives by Cameroonian authorities to impose stricter controls over mineral resource exploitation and ensure more transparent governance within the gold sector. It is a direct response to the substantial plundering of the nation’s gold resources, prompting the government to launch a comprehensive judicial and economic offensive to sanitize the gold supply chain.

Significant Financial Losses from Illicit Gold Activities

The impetus for this decisive action stems from alarming revelations made by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ITIE). Their findings exposed a staggering disparity: while Cameroonian customs officially recorded only 22 kg of gold exports, over 15 tonnes of gold originating from Cameroon were declared upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates. This massive gold contraband has resulted in an estimated direct loss exceeding 2,000 billion FCFA over a five-year period, including a direct fiscal shortfall of 165 billion FCFA.