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The African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), in collaboration with the African Union Commodity Strategy, the European Union (EU), and Global Gateway, has called on the government of Cameroon to fully leverage its extensive mineral resources to catalyse national industrialisation. This call was among the key recommendations presented after a week-long review mission held in Yaoundé.
The comprehensive evaluation was conducted to assess the extent to which Cameroon aligns with the standards set out in the African Mining Vision (AMV), which promotes transparent, sustainable, and equitable development of mineral resources across the continent. The evaluation involved various stakeholders, including international and regional development partners.
The investigative team discovered that Cameroon is endowed with rich deposits of valuable minerals, including bauxite, iron ore, cobalt, nickel, rutile, rare earth elements, and gold. However, these resources remain largely unexploited, with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations accounting for approximately 95% of mining activity in the country.
Despite the government having issued over 120 industrial mining permits, most remain inactive or under foreign ownership, while more than 1,000 artisanal mining sites operate informally across the nation. The economic impact of these mining operations is currently negligible, with the sector contributing a mere 0.63% to Cameroon’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and less than 0.2% to the national budget. Government revenue from the extractive industry remains under 5%, highlighting a disconnect between the country’s vast mineral wealth and its economic development outcomes.
In light of these findings, the experts outlined a set of strategic interventions aimed at revitalising Cameroon’s mining sector and integrating it into broader industrial development plans. These include:
- Regulatory and Governance Improvements:
- Adoption of the international model mining convention to standardise contracts, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in permit issuance.
- Strengthening geological data systems to expand accessibility and knowledge sharing.
- Operationalisation of the Mining Development Fund and implementation of open data policies to enhance trust and transparency.
- Fiscal Reforms and Revenue Management:
- Harmonisation of revenue reporting between the Directorate General of Customs and the Directorate General of Taxation.
- Establishment of a sovereign mineral wealth fund.
- Enhancement of auditing and oversight mechanisms.
- Reinvestment of mining revenues into local development initiatives, especially in identified mining zones.
- Support for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining:
- Creation of designated ASM zones to facilitate targeted investments and development.
- Provision of legal, technical, and financial support to artisanal miners, with a special focus on empowering women and youth in the sector.
- Promoting Local Value Addition:
- Development of a national mining industrialisation strategy aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Creation of mineral processing hubs and vocational training centres for priority minerals like bauxite, cobalt, and gold, to stimulate downstream industries.
- Environmental and Social Safeguards:
- Enforcement of mandatory mine rehabilitation plans and closure bonds for permit holders.
- Improvement of community engagement processes, resettlement frameworks, and grievance redress mechanisms.
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The evaluators concluded that Cameroon has yet to meet the benchmark standards outlined in the African Mining Vision and the African Mining Framework. Bridging this gap is essential for unlocking the country’s potential within regional value chains and achieving meaningful integration under the AfCFTA framework.
By implementing the outlined recommendations, stakeholders believe Cameroon can transform its mining sector into a key pillar of sustainable development, industrial growth, and regional economic integration.
