The recomposition of the artisanal mining sector in Cameroon: Controversy and negotiation around access to gold extraction sites in the municipalities of Bétaré-Oya and Batouri

In Cameroon, the government’s reform of mining policy has encouraged the development of artisanal mining. This article analyses the reconfiguration of power relations at production sites with the arrival of foreign companies. It shows that the mining companies’ security agents control the miners’ access to the resource by imposing a “tax” and negotiated arrangements. The study also shows that local figures use legal means to demand recognition of their right to exploit mining resources.