The fight against insecurity in gold mining areas continues in the Kédougou region. The national gendarmerie has dismantled a gang of criminals specializing in armed robberies, which had been active for several months.

According to sources, since August 2025, this criminal group had been sowing panic in several gold-mining areas, notably Bantaco, Djindji, Samécouta, and surrounding areas. The attackers targeted strategic routes used by gold miners and traders heading towards the mining sites.

A well-structured operating procedure

The investigations revealed that the perpetrators operated in small groups, generally intervening at night, wearing balaclavas to avoid identification and armed with AK47-type assault rifles, hunting rifles and bladed weapons.

After an attack reported on the night of January 23, 2026, in Bantaco, the gang members dispersed before launching another operation on February 6 along the Djindji-Wakilaré road. On February 13, they struck again along this same corridor linking the Djindji gold mining site to the village of Wakilaré, causing significant material losses to the victims.

A decisive technical investigation

In response to the increasing number of robberies, the Kédougou research unit has intensified its investigations. Technical analysis of the phones, carried out under a court order, led to the identification and subsequent arrest of members of the network, six of whom have been apprehended.

During the operations, security forces seized an AK47 with six 5.56 mm rounds, a hunting rifle with two 12 mm rounds, a machete, several balaclavas, a gold detector, two oxen, and several motorcycles of different makes.

The suspects were brought before the prosecutor's office on charges of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and cattle rustling.

This dismantling puts an end, for the time being, to several months of insecurity in the gold mining areas of southeastern Senegal, even though the authorities are calling on the population to strengthen their collaboration with the defense and security forces in order to prevent any resurgence of this type of criminal act.