To stop insurgent funding, the state is focusing on the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites. Simply tightening laws creates a vacuum that smugglers quickly fill. If a legal gold buyer requires paperwork a miner cannot afford, that miner will walk straight to a black-market middleman. To prevent this, the government is deploying mobile registration units to remote areas. These units simplify the licensing process and accept modest, manageable fees for legal permits.
We are also building local buying centers closer to mining sites. This brings the legal market to the miner, rather than forcing them to trek hundreds of kilometers. By offering competitive, fair market prices through regulated channels, the state makes the legal route more attractive than the risky, low-paying smuggler's route. Transparency also matters. We are using digital tracking tools to monitor gold flow from the pit to the refinery, making it harder for illicit actors to launder ore into the official supply chain.
Success depends on trust. If miners see that the state provides security and fair trade instead of just more taxes, they stay within the legal system.
