At the closing of the 2nd International Ecology Summit of West Africa , which took place this Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Nangui Abrogoua University, the Minister of the Environment and Ecological Transition presented an alarming assessment of illegal gold mining in Ivory Coast.

A scourge of national proportions

For Abou Bamba, the diagnosis is unequivocal: illegal gold mining is no longer a localized problem, but a "cancer that has metastasized throughout all 31 regions" of the country. Addressing an audience of experts from 14 nations, he emphasized that the impacts of this illicit activity affect all levels of society.

The three pillars of a major crisis

The minister framed his heartfelt plea around three devastating consequences:

1. Ecological and Health Disaster: The country's four major river basins are saturated with heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead). This pollution renders the water unfit for consumption, as well as for livestock farming and agriculture. "A cow drinks 70 liters of water. It is in these polluted ecosystems that they drink," he reminded everyone, to illustrate the health emergency.
2. Economic Hemorrhage: The loss for the State amounts to trillions of CFA francs , captured by criminal networks to the detriment of national development.
3. Social Divide: The minister deplored the massive dropout of young people from school, attracted by the immediate gain from the mines at the expense of their education.

"Without a solid scientific foundation, no sustainable ecological transition is possible." — Abou Bamba , Minister of the Environment.

Towards a regional scientific response

Faced with this major obstacle to development, the Ivorian government is relying on science. The summit resulted in several key initiatives, including:

1. The creation of the West African Ecological Society (SEAO) .
2. Strengthening ecological monitoring and data sharing between countries.
3. Emphasis on interdisciplinary research .

In paying tribute to the support of President Alassane Ouattara, Abou Bamba urged researchers, and particularly the younger generation, to transform their work into concrete solutions to eradicate this scourge and protect Ivorian biodiversity.