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Miners stockpile supplies, relocate staff amid fears of

unrest

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Minerals are part of diversification efforts in top cocoa

grower

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Exclusion of key opposition figures raises tension over

vote

By Maxwell Akalaare Adombila

DAKAR, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's fast-growing

mining sector is bracing for potential disruption ahead of a

tense presidential vote on Saturday, with President Alassane

Ouattara seeking a fourth term and key opposition figures

disqualified.

Mining is a major part of efforts by Ouattara, an

83-year-old former IMF economist, to diversify the economy of

the world's top cocoa producer.

Since he took power in 2011, gold output surged from around

10 metric tons in 2012 to over 58 tons in 2024, with a target of

100 tons by 2030.

Ivory Coast has a history of election violence. The

2010-2011 war that brought Ouattara to power killed over 3,000

people, while clashes connected to the 2020 election left at

least 85 dead.

MINERS STOCKPILING SUPPLIES, RELOCATING STAFF

Pre-election demonstrations have taken place in multiple

locations this month, and police said on October 14 that one

person was killed after being hit by a projectile during

opposition protests in which hundreds were arrested.

Fearing unrest, miners are stockpiling fuel, cyanide,

caustic soda and explosives, and relocating staff closer to

sites to safeguard operations, three industry sources said.

Supplies are being positioned at northern hubs like Korhogo

and Odienne, with reserves outside mines being negotiated, two

sources added.

As insecurity and regulatory crackdowns escalate across West

Africa's Sahel region, Ivory Coast has emerged as a haven for

mining investment, attracting majors like Barrick,

Perseus, Endeavour, Fortuna, and

Montage, backed by the Lundin Family Trust and Zijin

.

New entrants like Resolute and China's

Zhaojin-owned Tietto secured permits this year for

gold, lithium, copper and cobalt.

That influx now faces a test.

Former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO

Tidjane Thiam, seen as the strongest challengers, have been

excluded from Saturday's election.

"Contingency measures are being scaled up as visibility

worsens," one senior industry source said.

"We're not saying the country is unsafe, but we've seen this

before - same cause, same consequences."

The mines ministry and the Professional Group of Miners of

Côte d'Ivoire, a lobby group, did not respond to requests for

comment.

There is a "slight pause in deal scoping ahead of the vote,

but no capital flight or repricing of risk," said Tiffany

Wognaih of consulting firm J.S. Held. "Ivory Coast remains a

stable anchor in Francophone West Africa."

Mike Kruiniger of research firm Fitch BMI said emergency

measures made sense as unrest has previously reached mining

zones.