Over the last ten years, in Senegal, the clandestine export of gold has taken on impressive proportions. A study released this Thursday, October 3, 2024, by the Swiss NGO SWISSAID, reveals that “between 2013 and 2022, 36 to 41 t of gold, with a value of 2.38 to 2.71 billion dollars, were illegally taken out of the country, i.e. 3.6 to 4.1 t of gold illegally exported each year.
She explains that “this undeclared flow, mainly from artisanal and small-scale extraction (ASM), transits through Mali before reaching the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The proximity of the Kédougou region to the Malian border facilitates transactions with independent Malian buyers who offer more attractive prices than counters approved by the Senegalese state. The report mentions that “only 10% of artisanal gold passes through official channels”. Not to mention “significant discrepancies between the volumes of gold produced and exported, in particular due to the non-declaration of artisanal gold”. For example, the report cites, “in 2021, a difference of 2.95% was noted between official export figures and those reported by importing countries”.
SWISSAID therefore recommends better regulation of artisanal gold mining, in particular by reducing export taxes, currently set at 4%. A measure which could make purchasing counters more competitive and limit the flow of clandestine gold to neighboring countries.
The document highlights that “artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) remains important, but largely under-reported, although official gold production and exports have increased significantly, mainly driven by industrial mining.”
In 2022, the document states, “industrial gold production in Senegal reached 14.9 t, while artisanal mining, estimated between 4 and 4.5 t per year, remains poorly documented. Official exports amounted to 18.31 t, mainly to Switzerland, Australia and the Emirates.
Auteur: By Cheikh CAMARA (Correspondent in Thiès) – Seneweb.com
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