Efforts to address illegal gold mining in the Tigray region are intensifying, with the Interim Administration Land and Mines Bureau facilitating legal mining operations for youth associations. Tesfalem Hadgu, the deputy bureau head, shared with the Ethiopian News Agency that over 300 youth associations have received licenses to mine gold traditionally across 26 districts.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the peace and stability in the region are encouraging for the youth’s involvement in gold mining, creating jobs for around 7,000 individuals. He noted that the licensed groups are now accessing designated mining areas and emphasized the bureau’s commitment to legal mining practices. The initiative aims to counteract illegal mining activities and ensure the legal production and marketing of gold, with coordinated efforts across several bureaus to harness the region’s mineral resources responsibly.