The government of Côte d’Ivoire has granted mining permits for two major gold projects, Assafou and Doropo, paving the way for more than one point two five billion dollars in investment and reinforcing the country’s ambition to become one of Africa’s leading gold producers.
The approvals were issued through two decrees adopted at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February four, according to an official government statement. The permits clear the final regulatory hurdle for construction to begin at both sites between twenty twenty-six and twenty twenty-eight.
Côte d’Ivoire has emerged as one of West Africa’s fastest-growing gold producers in recent years, supported by rising foreign investment, regulatory reforms and sustained exploration activity. Annual gold output stood at about fifty eight tonnes in twenty twenty-four and is expected to climb to one hundred tonnes by the next decade, government officials have said.
Assafou, operated by Canada-based Endeavour Mining, is regarded as one of the country’s next flagship gold mines. The company said construction is expected to begin in the second half of twenty twenty-six, following the receipt of the mining permit.
According to a pre-feasibility study published in late twenty twenty-four, the Assafou project is expected to produce an average of three hundred and twenty nine thousand ounces of gold per year during its first decade of operation. Construction costs are estimated at seven hundred and thirty four million dollars, making it one of the largest single mining investments currently planned in the country.
Endeavour Mining said it must still complete a definitive feasibility study before taking a final investment decision. That study will refine capital expenditure, operating costs and production forecasts outlined in the earlier pre-feasibility phase. If approved, commercial production at Assafou is currently expected to begin in the second half of twenty twenty-eight.
The Doropo gold project, located in the northeast of Côte d’Ivoire near the border with Burkina Faso, is owned by Australia’s Resolute Mining. The company has been targeting the start of construction in the first half of the year, contingent on securing government approval.
With the mining permit now granted, Resolute Mining said the next major milestone will be a final investment decision. Production at Doropo is currently scheduled to begin in early twenty twenty-eight.
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Doropo is expected to produce an average of one hundred and seventy thousand ounces of gold per year over a projected mine life of thirteen years. Total investment for the project is estimated at five hundred and sixteen million dollars.
In January, Resolute Mining said it plans to allocate up to one hundred and ninety million dollars in twenty twenty-six to advance development work at Doropo, with funding to come from internal resources rather than external borrowing.
Beyond their contribution to gold output and export revenues, the two projects are expected to deliver significant employment benefits. A government note said the Doropo project alone could create around one thousand six hundred direct jobs during the construction phase, followed by about eight hundred permanent positions once the mine enters operation.
Côte d’Ivoire has positioned mining as a central pillar of its economic diversification strategy, alongside agriculture, manufacturing and energy. Authorities have sought to balance investor incentives with local content rules aimed at increasing employment, skills transfer and domestic value creation.
The permit approvals also come at a time of strong global demand for gold. Prices reached a recent peak last week before easing slightly, supported by expectations of looser monetary policy in major economies and continued geopolitical uncertainty. Analysts say the outlook remains favourable, with further price gains anticipated in twenty twenty-six.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the combination of rising gold prices and new large-scale projects could significantly boost export earnings, fiscal revenues and foreign exchange inflows over the coming years, reinforcing the country’s status as a key mining destination in West Africa.
