Authorities in Tigray have seized more than 12,000 grams of mercury and over 200 kilograms of cyanide used in illegal gold mining, in what officials describe as part of an effort to curb environmentally destructive, unregulated extraction.
The regional task force established to investigate and combat unlawful mining activities said that 12,998 grams of mercury and 205 kilograms of cyanide were confiscated across Tigray’s gold-producing areas. The announcement was made during a meeting in Axum attended by task force members, interim administration officials, zonal and district officials and community elders.
While authorities reported the chemical seizures, they did not identify the individuals or companies using the toxic substances, nor did they outline any enforcement actions against them.
The task force, established in July, 2024 by the Tigray Interim Administration has previously reported that it has seized over 440 machines from illegal sites in the Northwestern Zone, highlighting the scale of widespread illegal mining activities in Tigray, highlighting how the illegal mining is causing harm on the people, economy, livestocks, and the ecosystem.
On August 06, 2025 a research conducted by Mekelle University also revealed the extensive damage of the unregulated illegal mining in Tigray. According to the study to extract just one tone of gold, miners dig through approximately 140 hectares of land. The same study also found that desert coverage in Tigray expanded dramatically, with vegetation cover dropping from 13.51% to 10.5% within the last two years primarily to illegal mining.
Environmental experts have repeatedly raised alarms about the long-term consequences of environmental degradation caused by the unregulated illegal mining and the use of these hazardous chemicals. They warn that these chemicals like mercury and cyanide not only contaminate soil and waterways, but can also accumulate in the food chain, posing serious health risks to local communities. Experts emphasize that the damage extends beyond immediate ecological impacts, threatening biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and the overall sustainability of Tigray’s natural resources.
During today’s meeting the regional task force highlighted lack of coordination among local authorities, law enforcement agencies to curb illegal mining.