In a significant crackdown on illegal mining and environmental degradation, Guinea's authorities have arrested over 1,300 people, including nationals from several West African countries, in the Siguiri prefecture. The operations, part of the government's policy to combat clandestine mining, environmental damage, and natural resource exploitation, led to a massive judicial effort to try the suspects. According to the prosecutor general, Falou Doumbouya, the arrests were followed by a complex judicial process.
The scale of the arrests and public safety concerns prompted the prosecutor general of the Kankan Court of Appeal to refer the case to the Supreme Court on November 9, 2026, under Article 167 of the Organic Law L/2025/037/CNT. The Supreme Court ordered the Siguiri First Instance Court to be relieved of the case and for the penal procedures to be transferred to the Kankan Court of Appeal's jurisdiction. Multiple courts were mobilized to expedite the processing of the cases, with hearings taking place from November 10 to 12, 2026.
The trials resulted in prison sentences ranging from two to eighteen months for adult convicts found guilty of illegal mining. Additional penalties included bans on staying in Guinea for five to ten years and expulsion orders for foreign nationals. The Kankan First Instance Court also handed down decisions for 122 individuals from various West African nationalities, imposing prison sentences and, in some cases, bans on staying in Guinea.
Special attention was given to minors arrested during the operations. Presented before the special prosecutor for children at the Kankan Juvenile Court, they received specific protection, assistance, and care measures, in line with the Children's Code and the principle of prioritizing their best interests. The cases under the jurisdiction of the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Infractions (CRIEF) are ongoing.
The trials were conducted in accordance with fundamental principles of criminal proceedings, including the presumption of innocence, defense rights, adversarial proceedings, legality of prosecutions and penalties, and individualization of criminal responsibility. The prosecutor general's office ensured that the hearings respected these principles.
The judicial effort involved multiple courts, including those in Kankan, Dixinn, Mafanco, Dubréka, Forécariah, and Coyah, as well as the Kankan Juvenile Court. The mobilization of several jurisdictions was necessary to handle the large number of cases. The cases were distributed among the courts to ensure efficient processing.
The Guinean government's policy aims to combat illegal mining, environmental degradation, and natural resource exploitation. The authorities have demonstrated their commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the environment. The recent operations and trials demonstrate a significant step in this direction, with consequences for those found guilty of illegal activities.
Key points
- Over 1,300 people arrested in Siguiri prefecture for illegal mining
- Prison sentences range from 2 to 18 months for adult convicts
- Minors received specific protection, assistance, and care measures
