Houet: The Prefect, President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the commune of P©ni, Moumouni Ou©draogo, called on artisanal miners in his territory to strictly adhere to the suspension of gold panning activities during the rainy season. This appeal was made during an awareness meeting held at the P©ni town hall.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting aimed to engage representatives from various artisanal mining sites on the enforcement of the decree suspending gold panning activities. Comrade Moumouni Ou©draogo noted that despite ongoing awareness campaigns, some sites continue operations. He mentioned an awareness mission conducted in Moussobadougou and Gnafongo on July 7, 2026.

He highlighted that continued activities led to tensions on the night of July 9-10, 2026, necessitating intervention by the Defense and Security Forces. Representing the Regional Director in charge of Mines in Guiriko, Comrade Zongnaba Bath©l©mi emphasized the suspension as a temporary measure to ensure operators' safety during the winter season.

Karima Zoanga, representing the artisanal miners of Moussobadougou, expressed support for the authorities' initiative and confirmed the miners' commitment to adhere to regulations. The meeting included representatives from Moussobadougou, Dodougou, and Ti©m©r©dji mining sites.

The PDS encouraged participants to communicate the suspension message to miners at their sites to ensure effective compliance across the municipal territory.