Senegal has suspended all mining activities for nearly three years along its southeastern Faleme River, as part of a decree aimed at protecting the environment and supporting local communities threatened by the increasing exploitation of gold.
Chemicals used during gold extraction have polluted the Faleme River, which flows from the hills in Guinea, along much of Senegal’s border with Mali, before emptying into the Senegal River.
Mining will be halted across Senegal’s territory up to 500 meters from the left bank of the river, according to the decree.
Research has shown that the number of illegal mining sites along the Senegalese and Malian sides of the Faleme River has increased from 600 in 2021 to over 800, the Senegalese news agency reported.
The Faleme River, once home to a wide variety of fish and mammals, including hippos, has played a vital role in local agriculture.
According to a 2024 study published in the Journal of Water Resource and Protection, the river urgently needs restoration.