Cameroon’s phantom gold: billions bypassing state coffers

Sur cette photographie prise le 4 avril 2018, des mineurs d'or travaillent sur un site minier dans la ville camerounaise de Betare Oya (illustration).

Cameroon’s vanished gold wealth

A veritable gold rush has taken hold across Cameroon’s East and Adamaoua regions. Countless mining operations have sprung up, yet the state consistently fails to enforce its regulatory framework. Billions of francs are being illicitly siphoned off to Dubai, facilitated by sophisticated criminal networks. These syndicates thrive on deep-seated local complicity, with powerful figures willing to go to extreme lengths to safeguard their lucrative interests and maintain their illicit control. Our in-depth investigation uncovers the extent of this unchecked extraction.