In a major move to protect its most valuable natural resource, the Malian government has officially launched the Brigade Spéciale des Mines (Special Mines Brigade), a high-powered task force designed to dismantle illegal mining networks operating within its borders.
Mali, currently Africa’s third-largest gold producer, announced the creation of the unit following a cabinet meeting on Thursday. The move comes as the country battles a surge in “wildcat” mining and illicit trafficking that officials say drains billions from the national economy and causes catastrophic environmental damage.
Unlike previous oversight bodies, the new Brigade is equipped with judicial police powers, allowing it to conduct raids, target foreign and local syndicates, and enforce environmental standards. This is a direct response to the prohibited use of mercury and cyanide in artisanal sites, which has poisoned local water sources.
The task force is also mandated to secure legitimate sites to prevent them from being hijacked by armed groups seeking to fund their operations through “blood gold.”
The economic stakes are immense, as gold accounts for over 80% of Mali’s exports. The government estimates that over $13 billion worth of gold has been smuggled out of the country undeclared over the last decade.
This crackdown is part of a broader shift in the Sahel region toward “resource nationalism,” following Mali’s 2023 Mining Code which sought to increase the state’s share in mining projects.
Mali’s move mirrors similar intensifications in neighboring Ghana, where task forces have recently destroyed dozens of illegal dredging machines. For Mali, the success of this new Brigade will be measured by its ability to redirect “gray market” gold into the official state refinery, bolstering national reserves at a time of record-high global gold prices.
