COTE D’IVOIRE TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS Contributed by: Abdourahim Bodeen Diallo, Saran Kaba and Zahra Diallo, Thiam & Associés
The initiative seeks to address several critical chal - lenges: • rampant smuggling (with estimates suggesting as much as 40 tonnes of gold left the country illegally in 2022 alone); • poor safety practices; and • environmental degradation linked to unregulated operations. Formalisation will include training, adherence to envi - ronmental and social standards, and facilities for legal gold marketing. Parallel efforts, such as UNEP’s project to reduce mer - cury use in ASM, further underscore the sustainability dimension of mining reforms. This project supports miners’ transition to safer, mercury-free technologies while strengthening co-operatives and building insti - tutional capacity. 3. Investment attractiveness and administrative environment Analysts consistently highlight Côte d’Ivoire as one of West Africa’s most attractive mining jurisdictions, thanks to a relatively stable political climate, clear reg - ulatory pathways, and prompt permitting processes that industry stakeholders describe as highly competi - tive in the region. Government willingness to co-operate with investors is evident in the speed of exploration approvals and expansions by foreign miners, including companies from Canada, Australia, the UK, and beyond. A diver - sified array of junior miners have recently raised capi - tal to ramp up exploration activities, reflecting strong capital market confidence in Ivorian gold prospects. This investment momentum is further supported by macro-economic initiatives such as sustainable finance frameworks and broader economic reforms encouraging private sector growth and foreign partici - pation in strategic sectors, including mining. 4. Local content and economic integration Despite the strong inflow of foreign capital, Côte d’Ivoire is also focusing on local content and value creation. Formalisation efforts are designed to inte -
grate artisanal miners into the formal economy, increase traceability, and enable broader community benefits. Support for co-operatives and technical training strengthens the capacity of local participants in the mining value chain, enhancing employment and potential access to financing. The legal framework allows artisanal mining co- operatives to organise under OHADA’s Uniform Act on Cooperatives, encouraging governance practices conducive to transparency and sustainability. 5. Contractual issues, administrative flexibility, and dispute considerations Investors consistently cite regulatory predictability and administrative responsiveness as comparative strengths of the Ivorian mining regime. Streamlined permitting and a clear legal basis for exploration and production supports investor confidence. Yet, con - tractual negotiation remains a key focus area, par - ticularly regarding local content obligations, environ - mental liabilities, and benefit-sharing arrangements. Major negotiation points in mining contracts often include: • strength and clarity of local content commitments and skills development provisions; • ESG obligations aligned with international stand - ards; • stability clauses to provide long-term predictability for investors; and • dispute resolution mechanisms, ranging from domestic courts (ie, CCJA) to international arbitra - tion. The formalisation drive and sustained institutional engagement suggest the government aims to balance investor protections with social and environmental accountability, a balance that remains at the core of commercial negotiation in the sector. 6. Growth outlook Côte d’Ivoire is not simply consolidating existing operations; it is strategically positioning itself to climb the ranks of Africa’s gold producers. With ambitious government planning, strong geological potential, and ongoing reforms that encourage formal investment
176 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook