Guinea’s military government has cancelled 129 mineral exploration permits, intensifying efforts to assert greater control over the country’s natural resources. The move, announced in a statement late Monday, is part of a broader campaign to reclaim underutilised assets and reallocate them to more active investors.
A senior official at the Ministry of Mines, speaking anonymously, explained that the cancelled permits were largely inactive and that the government aims to “free unused resources for other investors.” The official also noted that the permitting system has been streamlined and digitised to allow for better oversight.
While it remains unclear if the decision will affect major foreign investments, a second ministry official confirmed that most of the permits cancelled were related to gold exploration and that the associated assets have now been returned to the state.
Earlier in the month, Guinea also revoked 51 mining licences tied to bauxite, gold, diamond, graphite, and iron that were either dormant or not yet operational. Among those affected were bauxite concessions held by Kebo Energy SA and Emirates Global Aluminium.
Guinea holds the world’s largest reserves of bauxite, a critical ore in aluminium production, and is a key supplier to countries like China. As such, the government’s latest actions signal a determined shift toward improving accountability and optimising returns from the mining sector.
This strategic tightening of control mirrors similar efforts by neighbouring military-led governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where foreign mining operations have also faced increased scrutiny as part of broader efforts to boost national revenues.
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