Going for gold leaves Senegal’s artisanal mining communities poorer

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is vital to the economy of the Kédougou region, where 98% of Senegal’s gold mining sites are located. In 2018, these mines produced about 4.2 tonnes of gold, worth 86.6 billion CFA francs and employed almost 32 500 people. Income generated by this type of gold mining enables local populations to pay for healthcare, food and education.