Invited to Seneweb, Abdoul Aziz Sy, CEO of Sabodala Gold Operations (SGO), shed light on the financial health and strategic impact of gold in Senegal. With a production of 8.5 tonnes in 2025, the mining complex is establishing itself as the main driver of a rapidly expanding extractive sector, while also providing substantial revenue to the public treasury.

Gold has solidified its position as Senegal's leading export, and the figures released by SGO illustrate the extent of this dominance. In 2025, the Sabodala-Massawa complex alone produced nearly 8.5 tons of gold, representing approximately 70% of national production. This technical achievement translates into direct benefits for the national economy, with 113 billion CFA francs paid to the State for the past fiscal year.

A massive long-term budgetary contribution

Beyond 2025, the CEO of SGO emphasized the company's consistent contributions. Over the four-year period from 2022 to 2025, cumulative payments to the State reached 460 billion FCFA. This total amount encompasses various tax and contractual categories, including direct taxes, mining royalties, dividends paid to the State as a shareholder, and customs duties.

The question of the distribution of mining revenue

One of the key points in Mr. Sy's presentation concerned the proportion of revenue that actually remains in Senegal. According to the CEO, the idea of a total capital flight is contradicted by the figures: 72% of the resources generated by operations stay in the country. Specifically, 24% are paid directly to the State, while 46% are reinvested in the local economy through the payment of salaries and invoices to Senegalese suppliers.