In the village of Ngoe Ngoe, located in the East Region of Cameroon, Sidonie Maboue spends her days knee-deep in muddy water, sifting through gravel in search of gold. The 45-year-old widow, a mother to twelve children, tirelessly works at the Kaye craft quarry to provide for her family. After several weeks of grueling labor, she may earn as little as 1,500 XAF (approximately $2.80), a modest sum that is not enough to compensate for the physical and emotional toll the work demands.
Despite the meager financial rewards, Sidonie, like many other villagers, continues to mine for gold in the hopes of finding enough to feed her children. “If I do not do that, how are we going to live?” she says, reflecting on the dangers and hardships she faces as a single parent since the death of her husband.
The Dangers of Gold Mining in Ngoe Ngoe
Sidonie’s life, like that of many others in the region, is intertwined with the perils of artisanal gold mining. In November 2017, she narrowly escaped a deadly disaster when a heap of earth collapsed at a Chinese-operated mining site near Kaye. Tragically, nine individuals lost their lives that night as they dug for gold in a desperate attempt to feed their families.
In the face of increasing pressure from foreign operators, including Chinese mining companies, local artisanal miners are often left with few options but to risk their lives. “The Chinese have arrived with law enforcement to drive the villagers out of the mine sites to better exploit our resources,” says Yaya Moussa, the village chief of Ngoe Ngoe. This has led villagers to work clandestinely at night, when the foreign companies are absent, in order to access gold in the hope of survival.
The conflict between local gold miners and expatriates has been exacerbated by the vague and poorly enforced mining regulations in Cameroon. According to the Mining Code of 2001, only Cameroonian nationals are entitled to an artisanal mining permit. However, the increasing presence of semi-mechanized Chinese operators, who use heavy machinery such as excavators and gravel washing machines, has blurred the lines between artisanal and industrial mining, creating confusion and conflict.
The Impact of Semi-Mechanized Mining
While semi-mechanized mining was first introduced to Cameroon in 2007 under the South Korean company C&K Mining to salvage gold from the Lom Pangar dam, its widespread use by foreign operators has led to significant environmental and human costs. In 2016, the government passed a new mining code that recognized semi-mechanized mining but required that at least 51 percent of the company’s shareholding be held by Cameroonian nationals. However, the decree necessary to implement this new law has yet to be signed, leaving the situation unresolved.
Despite the legality of semi-mechanized mining under the new code, the practice is still causing significant harm. Abandoned and unrehabilitated mining sites have left hazardous pits that continue to claim lives. According to the NGO Forêts et Développement Rural (Foder), 50 people died in mining accidents in the East Region in 2017 alone, and at least 250 mining sites opened between 2012 and 2014 have yet to be rehabilitated.
Environmental Degradation and Exploitation
Beyond human casualties, the environmental damage caused by both local and foreign miners is devastating. In Ngoe Ngoe, local leaders have reported that rivers have been destroyed, domestic animals have been trapped in abandoned mining holes, and farmlands have been ravaged by excavation machinery. Local residents have also spoken out about how Chinese mining companies have entered their lands without permission, leaving behind destruction and broken promises.
One farmer, Philiphine Boh, recounts how a Chinese company destroyed her plantation, offering her a paltry 70,000 XAF ($131.20) as compensation. “I have nothing left,” she says, mourning the loss of her livelihood. Similar stories of displacement and exploitation are widespread in mining areas, where locals often have no say in the operations taking place on their lands.
Corruption and Secret Deals
The relationship between local elites and Chinese mining companies has raised further concerns. According to the Center for Education, Training, and Support to Development Initiatives in Cameroon (Cefaid), some local leaders are signing secret deals with Chinese operators. These elites collect photocopies of villagers’ ID cards under the pretext of offering community benefits such as water, electricity, and employment opportunities. With these photocopies, they can acquire mining licenses for large areas of land and subsequently bring in Chinese companies to exploit the gold.
The lack of transparency in these transactions has left many villagers unaware of the deals being made behind their backs. In some cases, local authorities and military officials have been accused of turning a blind eye to the illegal activities of Chinese mining companies, allowing them to operate with impunity.
The Way Forward: A Call for Action
The situation in East Cameroon is dire, with the combination of environmental degradation, loss of life, and the exploitation of local communities. Despite the introduction of regulations aimed at controlling the mining industry, the lack of enforcement, corruption, and the absence of a clear legal framework have left many communities vulnerable to further harm.
There is an urgent need for government intervention to address the challenges posed by semi-mechanized artisanal mining and to ensure that local communities are protected from exploitation. This includes signing the decree to implement the new mining code, ensuring that foreign operators comply with the law, and holding corrupt local elites accountable for their role in enabling illegal mining activities.
Without meaningful reform, the cycle of destruction and exploitation in Cameroon’s artisanal gold mining sector is likely to continue, with devastating consequences for both the environment and the people who depend on it for their survival.
