Ivory Coast has adopted a bold stance against illegal gold mining, a scourge plaguing its rural regions for over a decade. The recent wave of expulsions targeting unauthorized artisanal miners underscores a pivotal shift in Abidjan’s mining policy, as authorities grapple with reconciling the expansion of formal extractive industries with the protection of agricultural basins. While the move carries significant social costs, the government defends its necessity in response to the widespread environmental degradation affecting soils, waterways, and farmlands. Why illegal gold mining clashes with Ivory Coast’s agricultural economy As…
Read MoreIvory Coast cracks down on illegal gold mining: balancing economic gains and environmental risks
