On the occasion of the celebration of the 66th anniversary of Senegal's independence, the prefect of the department of Saraya, Babacar Niang, raised the alarm over the worrying resurgence of illegal gold mining in this gold-bearing area in the southeast of the country.

In his speech delivered on April 4, the administrative authority denounced the continuation of this illegal activity, particularly active along the banks of the Falémé River. This situation persists despite existing prohibition measures and numerous dismantling operations carried out by the defense and security forces.

The prefect highlighted the particularly heavy human toll. According to his figures, 54 people lost their lives in 2025 following landslides at illegal gold mining sites. This dramatic situation, he argued, illustrates the extreme danger of this activity, carried out outside of any regulatory or safety framework.

Faced with this deadly spiral, Babacar Niang made an urgent appeal to the public to act responsibly. He stressed the need to strengthen prevention and awareness campaigns to avoid further tragedies in an area already severely affected.

Reaffirming the authorities' determination, the prefect assured that the fight against illegal gold mining will continue resolutely. This fight is considered essential to preserving human lives, protecting the environment, and guaranteeing sustainable development in the Saraya department.

In a context where the exploitation of natural resources remains a major issue, this message sounds like a warning: without collective mobilization and strengthened measures, landslides will continue to claim victims in areas of illegal gold mining.