Illicit Mining Surges In Tigray Despite Administrative Freeze Order

Illicit mining in Tigray Regional State continues to grow more widespread despite an order from the regional administration to freeze all mining activity. Reports indicate that the environmental impacts of the illegal use of hazardous chemicals are severe.

The Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) cabinet recently passed a decision ordering a halt to all mining activities in the region. The decision was echoed by officials at the Tigray Mining Bureau, who issued a notice reiterating the prohibition.

The notice orders all miners to cease the extraction of gold, copper, tungsten, and other precious and semi-precious metals.

“Licenses issued at the woreda, zone or federal levels for exploration and extraction for artisanal, small-scale, special small-scale, and large-scale must cease activities,” reads the notice.

The only exceptions are miners extracting construction inputs. The cabinet has also ordered a suspension on the processing of new license applications.

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Sources told The Reporter that a task force established by the TIA is conducting an audit of the regional Mining Bureau and all active licenses in the region.

However, the sources say, in reality, the freeze order has not been implemented. Mining in Tigray, which largely operates outside of proper licensing, has surged as political and security tensions grip the region in light of an escalating feud between the TIA and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The effectiveness of the task force has also been called into question.

“Its integrity is in doubt so it can’t effectively implement the order. Tigray’s security officers are involved in the mining. How can a task force run by security officials halt the operations while they are involved in it?” asked one source who spoke to The Reporter anonymously. “The audit of the Bureau is also superficial. It should be carried out by a neutral and independent institution, not by officials who caused the problem.”