Senegal Halts Mining Along Faleme River to Protect Environment and Communities
Senegal has suspended all mining activities for nearly three years along its side of the southeastern Faleme River in a move to protect the environment and support local communities impacted by a surge in artisanal gold mining.
The decree, aimed at curbing pollution from mining-related dredging and chemical discharges, affects a 500-meter stretch of Senegalese territory along the river’s left bank and will remain in place until June 30, 2027.
The Faleme River, which originates in the uplands of Guinea, flows along much of Senegal’s border with Mali before joining the Senegal River.
Once rich in fish and mammals like hippos and vital for local agriculture, the river has suffered significant environmental degradation due to mining activities.
A recent survey revealed that the number of illegal mining sites along the Faleme’s Senegalese and Malian sides has increased from 600 in 2021 to over 800. The need for restoration is urgent, according to a 2024 study published in the Journal of Water Resource and Protection.
