Mali’s council of ministers on March 18, adopted legislation establishing the Malian Office of Precious Substances.
This new body aims to regulate the marketing of gold from artisanal and small-scale mining.
The government formalized the creation of this body in a context marked by the strategic importance of the gold sector to the national economy.
Gold represents nearly 85% of the country’s exports and constitutes a major source of public revenue and foreign exchange.
In 2025, national gold production reached 75.2 tonnes, a 4% increase compared to the previous year. Artisanal and small-scale mining contributed 7.1 tonnes, representing an 18% increase, confirming the growing importance of this segment in overall production. This sub-sector employs approximately 500,000 people, primarily in the informal economy.
Despite these production levels, discrepancies persist between officially declared volumes and those observed on international markets.
Recorded exports amount to approximately 65 tons, while some estimates, particularly based on import data from the United Arab Emirates, suggest volumes closer to 85 tons. This gap represents
several hundred billion CFA francs of untapped resources.
The creation of the office is a continuation of the reforms introduced by the 2023 Mining Code, which increased the State’s participation in mining projects to 35%.
It also follows the establishment of the Malian Mining Heritage Company (Sopamim S.A.), responsible for managing the sector’s assets.
According to the authorities, this new body will be tasked with organising, securing, and centralising the marketing of precious substances, particularly gold.
It should also contribute to improved traceability of flows and the alignment of national statistics with the volumes actually traded.
The gold sector now contributes more than 10% to the gross domestic product, compared to 9.2% in 2022, and generated approximately 850 billion CFA francs in revenue in 2025.
This development comes as the authorities are multiplying reforms to better regulate the exploitation of natural resources and secure the economic benefits.
MD/te/fss/as/APA