Faced with the persistent precariousness of traditional gold miners in the Kédougou region, Senegalese members of parliament are calling for a thorough reform of artisanal gold mining. During a visit Thursday to the Bantako gold mining site, Babacar Ndiaye, chairman of the National Assembly's Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, urged the government to immediately formalize this strategic activity for the local economy.

Leading a delegation of fifteen parliamentarians, Babacar Ndiaye stressed the need to provide artisanal miners with a clear, secure legal framework that respects human dignity. "Traditional gold panning is still practiced under extremely difficult conditions, marked by significant human, social, and security constraints," he emphasized, calling for better organization of the sector to reduce tensions and risks.

This parliamentary mission, conducted under the supervision of the regional director of Mines in Kédougou and in the presence of the regional director of classified establishments, Maurice Ndior, is in line with the guidelines set by the President of the National Assembly. Its aim is to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders in the extractive sector, particularly artisanal gold miners, in order to better understand their realities and concerns.

On the ground, the MPs observed several major difficulties: complex access to gold mining sites, the lack of clearly defined mining corridors, and the destruction of equipment belonging to the miners during operations conducted by the defense and security forces. According to MP Babacar Diop, this situation fuels frustration and tension in an area where illegal mining remains widespread.

Representatives of the gold miners made their voices heard. Lamine Cissoko, president of the Kédougou Regional Federation of Gold Miners, denounced the repeated seizures of equipment acquired on credit, citing heavy economic losses for the affected operators. He called on the authorities to definitively clarify the authorized mining zones and to put an end to the dismantling of sites he considers legal.

The parliamentary delegation plans a five-day stay in the Kédougou region. After discussions with traditional gold miners, the MPs will visit several industrial mining companies, including Managem-Boto, Sabodala and the Mako gold mine, with the aim of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the issues, challenges and prospects of the extractive sector in this region with high mining potential.