Policy and practice contrasts in Cameroon's mining sector

Cameroon has increasingly prioritized mining as a pathway for economic diversification, while mineral production remains dominated by artisanal and small-scale mining and several large industrial projects that remain at early stages of development. Key issues include limited local benefit-sharing, weak regulatory enforcement, delays in industrial projects, and socio-environmental conflicts linked to foreign investment. The 2023 Mining Code sought to address these gaps through reforms that expand State participation in mining ventures, centralize the purchasing and marketing of gold and diamonds through the national mining company, and strengthen environmental and social oversight. Cameroon's February 2024 suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reflected am only partly met civil-society engagement, alongside separate transparency and accountability weaknesses. This study applied a multi-sectoral analysis of national and regional socioeconomic data, including community-level surveys and a semi-quantitative mining-sustainability assessment to identify the sustainability gaps in Cameroon's mining sector. Positive and negative mining impacts were evaluated across economic, social and environmental dimensions, and the resulting sustainability patterns were subsequently interpreted in relation to selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The semi-quantitative assessment produced negative net scores for the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that adverse impacts predominate under the baseline assumptions, although the overall balance remains sensitive to uncertainty in impact magnitude. The proposed strategies are not prescriptive; rather, they represent practical options to help transform mining into a catalyst for inclusive growth, environmental stewardship, and equitable socioeconomic development consistent with international standards.