by Cosimo Graziani
Monrovia – Liberia has announced the establishment of a task force to combat illegal mining. The new body, called the Protect Our Resources Taskforce , has been created to strengthen inspections, improve enforcement of mining regulations and enhance government oversight of the
phenomenon. According to the Liberian newspaper The New Dawn, the initiative was launched in the presence of Minister of Mines and Energy Matenokay Tingban, who described it as “a strategic shift toward intelligence-led enforcement, stronger coordination and more responsible management of mineral resources.”
The task force will monitor mining operations across the country, ensuring compliance with licensing requirements, royalty payments, environmental standards, labor regulations and other legal provisions. One of the government’s objectives is to promote a more regulated mining sector by reducing illegal mining and illicit trafficking, particularly of gold, in order to improve working conditions, limit environmental damage and increase government revenues. As Tingban explained at the press conference, Liberia’s mineral resources are among its national assets and must therefore contribute to economic transformation, financial stability, environmental sustainability, and national prosperity.
The Liberian government’s decision to establish a task force for the mining sector should come as no surprise. The rapid expansion of mining activities, especially illegal operations, has become one of the major socio-economic challenges facing several African countries.
West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria, as well as the Congo Basin, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo , are the hardest hit. But illegal mines, primarily gold mines, also exist in South Africa and Uganda. In recent days, illegal mines have been shut down in both countries. The closures in South Africa led to the arrest of over two hundred people, mostly undocumented immigrants. Illegal mining harms African societies in many ways, most notably the environment. Gold mining involves the use of pollutants such as mercury, which is discharged into rivers and water basins. The environmental impact is compounded by equally devastating social consequences. In the Ugandan mine closed in recent days, located in the Kanungu district, a full-scale gold rush had developed over recent weeks. The rush prompted most residents to abandon the village of Kanoni and move into makeshift settlements surrounding the mine.
The abandonment of the village resulted in a local food crisis, as farmers abandoned their fields to work in the mines. Entire families left the village, including underage children, who had to drop out of school to support their families. To resolve this situation in Uganda, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutoro, had to intervene and shut down the mine upon her arrival on site.
The problem not only causes internal social difficulties but is also closely linked to international dynamics and conflicts. Illegal mining is fueled by the raw material hunger of regional and global geopolitical powers. It is linked to widespread corruption and represents another facet of neocolonialism.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo , mining activities are intertwined with the instability caused by the presence of rebel groups such as the M23. Since the movement seized control of Goma in early 2025, the government in Kinshasa has lost control of the local mines, which are now operated by the rebel group. The group has also extended its control to gold smuggling. Furthermore, the DRC not only mines gold but also precious metals for technological innovation. These are at the heart of a smuggling trade coveted by rebel groups, often linked to close alliances with groups and organizations in neighboring countries. Thus, the trade in gold and precious metals also becomes a battleground for economic conflicts, which in turn are intertwined with regional and global conflicts.
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