Guinea’s Military Junta Revokes Dozens of Foreign Mining Licenses Amid Resource Power Shift

Guinea’s ruling military junta has stripped around 50 mining companies of their licenses, intensifying a regional trend of state control over natural resources in West Africa. The sweeping decree—broadcast on state TV—targets underperforming operators in sectors including bauxite, gold, diamonds, and graphite. Guinea, the world’s second-largest bauxite producer, joins countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in asserting stronger national ownership over extractive industries. While some analysts downplay the impact, citing the scale of the firms involved, the lack of warning has sent ripples of uncertainty through international markets. Leader Mamady Doumbouya, in power since a 2021 coup, has pledged elections by December and a constitutional referendum on Sept. 21. But for now, Guinea’s resource-rich ground has become the stage for a new geopolitical and economic reset.