Ivorian MP Naya Jarvis Zamble is speaking out against the persistent scourge of illegal gold mining.
In a statement, the lawmaker denounces the sacrifice of the environment for personal financial gain and calls for a national awakening.
For Ivorian MP Naya Jarvis Zamble, the current situation is simply intolerable. Illegal gold mining is destroying the water, the land and the future of the country.
The MP points to internal complicity that is exacerbating the problem.
“What is even more painful is learning that some authorities and traditional chiefs are allegedly involved in these activities,” she laments, railing against those who are willing to sacrifice entire communities to enrich themselves.
Faced with the pollution of waterways and the degradation of soils, she poses a crucial question for the future: what will be left for our farmers and future generations?
This heartfelt plea comes after a report by the National Security Council (CNS), chaired by Alassane Ouattara, on July 23, 2026.
The results of operations conducted between 2021 and the first half of 2026 demonstrate the scale of the undertaking: over 8,500 illegal mining sites cleared, 4,474 individuals brought before the courts (65% of whom were foreign nationals), 136 kg of gold seized, and over 960 million CFA francs intercepted.
Despite these massive efforts, the CNS expresses its deep concern about the persistence and spread of this scourge, which threatens national security, the economy and the ecosystem.
“Our land is not for sale. Our waters are not to be sacrificed,” the report states, calling on every citizen to take responsibility for protecting Côte d’Ivoire.
For the MP, however, illegal gold mining is not inevitable. While a firm stance from the authorities remains essential, local populations must absolutely get involved. Naya Zamble urges young people in the villages to organise themselves to resist the destruction of their land and to alert the relevant authorities.
AP/Sf/fss/gik/APA