Côte d’Ivoire has stepped up its campaign against illegal gold mining, handing new vehicles, boats, motorcycles and surveillance equipment to security forces operating in some of the country’s regions most affected by the activity.

The equipment was handed over on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Agban gendarmerie barracks in Abidjan during a ceremony chaired by Defence Minister and Vice Prime Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara.

The first batch includes 30 pickup trucks, 35 troop transport vehicles, 300 motorcycles, 12 Zodiac boats and several drones. The equipment will be used by the Special Group for the Fight Against Illegal Gold Mining (GSLOI), the Special Surveillance and Intervention Brigade, the gendarmerie and water and forestry services.

The units will operate in 11 regions: Bagoué, Bounkani, Cavally, Gbêkê, Hambol, Iffou, Indénié-Djuablin, Moronou, Nawa, Sud-Comoé and Worodougou.

The government has set a six-month period, beginning Sept. 30, to intensify operations against illegal gold mining, with regional prefects placed at the centre of coordination between security forces and local authorities.

Ouattara said the government was determined to tackle illegal gold mining nationwide while insisting that operations must be conducted in accordance with the law and respect for local populations.

He called for closer cooperation between security forces, prefectural authorities and other government agencies, including improved intelligence sharing and coordinated interventions.

More equipment expected

The equipment delivered this week represents only the first part of a larger order placed by the National Security Council.

According to CNS Executive Secretary Fidèle Sarassoro, the full order includes 48 pickup trucks, 40 troop transport vehicles, 360 motorcycles, 84 Zodiac boats, about 30 drones and 10 GPS devices.

The additional equipment is intended to improve the forces’ mobility, surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly in difficult-to-access areas and along waterways.

The government has also increased the role of regional prefects, who are expected to coordinate operations with local security forces and civil-military security units.

Authorities cite more than 1,000 sites cleared

The reinforcement comes after several years of operations against illegal mining.

According to figures presented by Sarassoro, the GSLOI has overseen the removal of illegal miners from more than 1,000 sites, while 4,665 people have been referred to judicial authorities and 745 excavators have been seized. Authorities also reported seizures of significant quantities of gold.

Despite those operations, the government says illegal mining has resurged, citing local complicity and external financing among the factors contributing to the continued activity.

Recommendations from a national workshop held in Yamoussoukro in early September were subsequently adopted by the CNS during a Sept. 17 session, according to the government.

The authorities say the renewed strategy will focus on stronger intelligence gathering, better coordination and greater use of surveillance technology, including drones.

The campaign also covers the protection of forests, farmland and water resources, which have been affected by illegal mining activities.

The government has said the six-month period will be used to assess the effectiveness of the reinforced operations, with prefects and security forces expected to coordinate interventions across the affected regions.