Cameroon’s interim Mines Minister faces scrutiny over gold trafficking claims

During a press briefing in Yaoundé on July 15, 2026, interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Fuh Calistus Gentry formally denied reports of gold theft or disappearance from Cameroon’s state reserves. The statement, delivered alongside Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi, aimed to quell growing concerns over a reported fiscal shortfall exceeding 2,000 billion FCFA.

The government attributes the crisis not to embezzlement of public funds but to widespread underreporting by private operators. Mining companies are accused of significantly understating actual gold extraction volumes.

Government responds to gold export discrepancies

The state is experiencing a sharp decline in revenue from synthetic mining taxes and export duties. A 2023 report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) revealed a staggering discrepancy: Cameroon officially exported just 22 kg of gold, while UAE customs recorded 15 tons of Cameroonian gold entering the country.

The National Mining Company (Sonamines) estimates that approximately 44 tons of gold have bypassed formal channels between 2021 and 2025. To combat trafficking and clean up the gold sector, Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry announced immediate reforms, including the deployment of a permanent joint task force involving Sonamines, the General Tax Directorate, and Customs.

The task force will conduct direct on-site inspections at production sites. Plans also include hiring an international expert to assess actual deposit potential and impose a minimum tax rate independent of operators’ declarations.

Sikati’s fiery response

‘CERTAIN CAMEROONIAN MINISTERS ARE TRUE MAGICIANS’

The current Cameroonian Mines Minister is Fuh Calistus, appointed to replace his predecessor Gabriel Dodo Ndoke, whose mysterious death remains unresolved.

During yesterday’s press conference, Minister Fuh Calistus declared, ‘There is no disappearance of gold belonging to the state.’ Yet the gold trafficking scandal continues to dominate national and international headlines.

It’s crucial to note: the minister did not deny gold disappearance—only that state-owned gold had vanished. This raises a critical question: who, then, owns the gold whose disappearance has been exposed?

Under Cameroon’s Mining Code, subsoil minerals and gold are state property. Perhaps the minister believes—despite clear legal provisions—that this gold belongs to private individuals. In reality, these officials prioritize personal interests over national welfare.