Africa Awake! Guinea junta strips foreign firms of mining permit

Orders them to build refineries and process locally

The military junta of Guinea, led by General Mamady Doumbouya, has cancelled over fifty mining permits for gold, bauxite, diamonds, and graphite from foreign companies.

This was contained in a decree issued by General Doumbouya withing the week.

What prompted the withdrawal of mining permits?

The decision comes as Doumbouya said that his government is seeking greater control over the mining sector.

Doumbouya, it could be recalled, came to power following a coup in September 2021.

The decree also ordered withdrawal of permits from companies that do not comply with the country’s mining code.

The Guinean military government has, as yet, offered no further reason for the decision.

According to the decree, foreign companies have until the end of May to submit proposals for building refineries to ensure local processing of the mineral bauxite.

Despite having plenty of natural resources, Guinea, unfortunately, is one of the world’s poorest countries.

Mining in Guinea

Is Guinea rich in natural resources and, if yes, are they available in mining quantities?

Guinea is rich in natural resources in mining quantities as follows:

1. Mineral Resources

• Bauxite: Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves, estimated at 25-27 billion metric tons, accounting for almost half of the world’s total reserves.
  The country is the second-largest bauxite exporter after Australia.
• Iron Ore: Guinea has significant high-grade iron ore reserves, estimated at 4 billion tons, with major projects like Simandou and Mount Nimba expected to boost production.
• Gold: Guinea has substantial gold deposits; the Lefa mine is one of the largest mines in the country.
• Diamonds: Guinea has diamond reserves of about 40 million carats; most of the deposits are in the Banankoro-Sefadou area.
• Uranium, Nickel, Manganese, and Graphite are also present in commercial quantities.

1. Agricultural Resources

• Crops: Rice, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, bananas, pineapples, coffee, citrus fruits, and sugarcane are grown in Guinea, with rice being a staple crop.
• Fisheries: Guinea has significant water-based resources, including strong hydropower and fishing industries.

1. Energy Resources

• Hydropower: Guinea has a massive hydroelectric power production potential, estimated at 19,300 GWh per year, although only a small fraction is currently utilized.
• Oil and Natural Gas: While Guinea has poor oil and natural gas resources, the government has introduced a new petroleum code to encourage offshore oil drilling.

1. Tourism

• Guinea has stunning natural attractions, including waterfalls, such as:
  • the Soumba Cascade,
  • Kinkon Cascades, and,
  • Kambadaga falls, making it a popular tourist destination.

Africa Awake!

The recent development in Guinea involving mining permits has been described by observers as part of the “Africa Awake” frenzy sweeping across the continent.

Recently, a former French Economy Minister, Mr. Thierry Breton, lambasted President Emmanuel Macron for ‘opening the eyes of Africans’.

Mr. Breton even called for ‘the heads of one of the puschists to fall’, an apparent euphemism for murder.

If that happens, he assured, “the others will abandon the vision”.

In a widely circulated comment, Breton said:

“It was Emmanuel Macron’s stupidity that opened the eyes of Africans.
“One thing is certain if France loses its colonies our children and grandchildren will go to Africa in search of their livelihoods.
“Immigration will change direction. Macron needs to go or France will suffer.
“Europe need to unite to fight this new African vision.
“Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and other countries will follow suit.
“If one of the puschists’ heads falls, the others will abandon the vision.
“Africa has no history, therefore, cannot run the world.”

Who is Mamady Doumbouya?

Mamady Doumbouya is a Guinean military officer serving as the current president of Guinea since September 5, 2021.

Born on March 4, 1980, in Kankan, Guinea, he rose to power after leading a coup d’état that overthrew the previous president, Alpha Condé.

Here are some key facts about him, amidst the withdrawal of mining permits:

Early Life and Career: Doumbouya joined the French Foreign Legion and later became a commander of the Special Forces Group of the Guinean military.

He has extensive military experience, including deployments to Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, and the Central African Republic.

Presidency: As president, Doumbouya has been responsible for significant decisions, including dissolving the government and constitution, and promising to introduce “free, credible and transparent” elections.

He was sworn in as interim president on October 1, 2021.

Personal Life: Doumbouya is married to Lauriane Darboux, a French national and active-duty member of the French National Gendarmerie.

They have four children together.

Controversies: Human rights concerns mark hi presidency, including the disappearance of activists and journalists.

In July 2024, families of the disappeared activists filed a complaint against him in Paris, France.

International Relations: Doumbouya has met with several international leaders, including Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Xi Jinping of China, to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.

Military Promotions: In January 2024, he promoted himself to General.

Later that year, he became a General of the army, resigning from his command of the Special Forces Group.

In May 2025, he cancelled several mining permits for gold, bauxite, diamonds, and graphite from foreign companies.

About Guinea

Guinea is a West African country with a rich history and diverse geography.

Here’s a brief overview:

Location: Guinea shares border with Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Ivory Coast to the east, Sierra Leone to the southwest, and Liberia to the south, with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Capital: Conakry is the capital and largest city, serving as the country’s economic and cultural hub.

Government: Guinea is a unitary presidential republic currently under military rule, led by Interim President Mamady Doumbouya.

Economy: The country has significant natural resources, including being the world’s second-largest producer of bauxite, with deposits of diamonds and gold ready for mining.

Agriculture is also a major sector.

Culture: Guinea has over 24 indigenous languages, with French being the official language.

The population is predominantly Muslim, with 90% identifying as such.

Challenges: Guinea faces development challenges, including high multidimensional poverty rates.

The poverty rates affect 66.2% of the population, amidst human rights concerns.

Some notable geographical features of Guinea include:

• Guinea Highlands: The source of the Niger, Gambia, and Senegal rivers.
• Maritime Guinea: The Atlantic coastal region.
• Fouta Djallon: A highland region in central Guinea.
• Upper Guinea: A savanna region in the northeast.
• Guinée forestière: A region of tropical forests.

Guinea has a complex history, with various empires and colonial influences shaping the country.

It gained independence from France in 1958 and has since experienced periods of authoritarian rule and military coups.

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