Senegal has announced a nearly three-year suspension of all mining activities along its southeastern Faleme river, a move aimed at safeguarding the environment and supporting local communities impacted by the surge in artisanal gold mining.
The suspension, outlined in a decree published on Tuesday, affects all mining operations within 500 meters (about 547 yards) of the river’s left bank and will remain in effect until June 30, 2027.
This decision comes in response to growing concerns about environmental degradation caused by mining-related dredging and chemical discharges, which have severely polluted the Faleme river.
Originating from the uplands in Guinea, the Faleme river flows along a significant portion of Senegal’s border with Mali before joining the Senegal river. Once teeming with diverse species of fish and mammals, including hippos, the river also played a crucial role in local agriculture.
However, the rise of illegal mining sites has taken a toll on the river’s ecosystem, with the number of such sites on both the Senegalese and Malian sides increasing from 600 in 2021 to over 800, according to a recent report by the Senegalese Press Agency.
