July 15, 2026

The African Tribune

Bold, independent reporting on Africa's most important stories, in English, every day.

Cameroon’s phantom gold: billions slipping from state grasp

Sur cette photographie prise le 4 avril 2018, des mineurs d'or travaillent sur un site minier dans la ville camerounaise de Betare Oya (illustration).

Cameroon’s gold: billions vanishing into thin air

A gold rush has gripped Cameroon’s East and Adamaoua regions, where mining operations proliferate with little oversight. Billions in potential revenue are disappearing, funnelled towards Dubai through sophisticated criminal networks. These illicit operations thrive on local complicity, with powerful individuals determined to maintain their grip, posing a significant challenge to African governance and current affairs.

Corruption