(Business in Cameroon) – Kambelé gold mine in Cameroon’s East region is now exclusively reserved for local communities. This directive came in a July 22, 2025, letter from Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Secretary-General of the Presidency, to acting Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Fuh Calistus Gentry.
“By order of the President of the Republic, I have the honor of relaying the very high instructions prescribing that the exploitation of gold ore at the Kambelé site, initially granted to the company Jam’s Avenir Sarl, be exclusively reserved for local artisanal miners at said site,” the official note stated.
This decision follows social unrest that erupted on June 11 in Batouri. On that day, demonstrators protested with placards against the site’s exploitation by Jam’s Avenir and its technical and financial partner, Codias. Codias is led by MP Bonivan Mvondo Assam, who also owns the primary mining company operating in Kolomine, located in the East.
However, some sources suggest local political elites instigated the protest. Jam’s Avenir, a Cameroonian company led by Rodrigue Mboundjo, had held the sole active exploration permit for the site since August 2024. The company claims to have already invested hundreds of millions of CFA francs in comprehensive studies for a project agreement still awaiting government approval.
The Kambelé site has been central to multiple controversies, particularly after its illegal exploitation by Chinese companies. These companies, having acquired artisanal permits from local residents, were conducting semi-mechanized operations, which Cameroon’s Mining Code typically reserves for Cameroonian firms. Some faced court convictions.
In response to these irregularities, the Ministry of Mines suspended activity at the site before allowing operations to resume. It also urged Jam’s Avenir to address the concerns of local communities.
The decision to officially assign the site to artisanal miners marks a turning point in managing this strategic deposit. However, it could lead to legal battles. According to our information, Jam’s Avenir is considering suing the Cameroonian state for damages.
Frédéric Nonos
