Efforts by Mauritania to reduce its reliance on the Tasiast gold mine are expected to take time, given that mining development cycles—from exploration to production—typically span several years or even more than a decade.
In the interim, attention is turning to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) as a key support pillar for output. The sector produced 14.7 tonnes of gold between 2020 and August 2024, largely driven by the work of MAADEN Mauritanie, which was established in 2020 to formalize and regulate the activity.
However, authorities continue to face challenges in fully integrating the sector into formal systems, with portions of production still operating outside official oversight.
According to a report published in October 2024 by SWISSAID, an estimated 30 tonnes of gold may have been exported illicitly from Mauritania between 2016 and 2022, based on official production data and artisanal mining estimates.
The findings highlight ongoing governance gaps in the sector, even as the country seeks to strengthen regulation and maximize revenue from its natural resources.
