Spokesperson for the Guinean Government: Revoking Mining License "Is Not a Punishment!" There Will Still Be Opportunities to Reapply in the Future

Following Amara Camara's remarks, Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, the Minister of Transport and Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Guinea, further elaborated on the reasons for revoking the mining rights of certain local enterprises. The government spokesperson emphasized that these measures were not intended as punishment but rather to enhance the efficiency and credibility of the mining sector. He added that the goal was to rebuild the mining sector to ensure greater compliance with regulations.

"These measures are neither impromptu nor arbitrary (...). We must remember that contracts are involved, with commitments from both parties. When one party defaults, the legal process and our mining laws provide mechanisms for the state to reclaim its rights or for companies that have been wronged to appeal. Therefore, we are taking these measures to ensure the proper enforcement of the law and to send a positive signal to all investors," stated Ousmane Gaoual Diallo.

Miners whose mining rights have been revoked have the possibility of appealing, but…

Within a week, the Guinean authorities revoked nearly 200 non-compliant mining licenses and reclassified them as strategic reserve areas. According to the government spokesperson, companies whose licenses have been revoked have the right to appeal.

"The President wants to ensure that once you have signed a commitment, or he has signed a commitment on behalf of the people of Guinea, both parties must adhere to it. This way, everyone can develop a habit of compliance. Therefore, this is not a punishment but a move towards transparency and the rebuilding of economic relations to ensure that all initiatives serve the country's development. Currently, if there is a default, the parties involved still need to fulfill their respective payment obligations, but this will not affect the validity of the commitments made previously. This means that if a company has committed to paying a certain amount of taxes to the state annually and contributing to local development, we will ensure that these commitments are fulfilled," he said.

The Minister of Transport clarified that companies that have lost their licenses have the opportunity to reapply when concessions in the mineral market are opened up. However, he emphasized that this would come with certain conditions. "For companies that are ready or meet the criteria, we will not impose restrictions. Because we are not implementing a policy of sanctions; we are rebuilding the economic system and strengthening territorial sovereignty. If you meet the criteria for regaining a concession tomorrow, we will not object. However, if the license was revoked due to multiple violations, you will not be able to obtain a license again. We will ensure that all regulations of the Mining Commission are strictly enforced," he explained.

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