Guinea postpones trial of 22 Siguiri administrators to 16 November
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africaguinée
The trial of 22 former territorial administrators from Siguiri and 202 gold miners accused of corruption and illegal gold mining resumed on Wednesday before the CRIEF before being adjourned to 16 November 2026. The administrators deny knowing about the presence of foreigners, while the miners admit to gold mining, according to Africaguinee.
Guinea’s Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offences (CRIEF) has adjourned to 16 November 2026 the trial of 22 former territorial administrators from Siguiri and 202 gold miners accused, among other things, of alleged corruption, illicit enrichment, money laundering and environmental offences, after a day of confrontations in court, reports Africaguinée.
The former prefects and sub-prefects denied knowing about the presence of Burkinabè, Malian, Togolese and other foreign nationals accused of illegal gold mining in their jurisdictions. The gold miners admitted to artisanal gold-mining activities in Kintinian, Kourémalé and Soumbalakoba, while saying they did not know the administrators serving in those areas, according to Africaguinée.
The proceedings also focused on the presence of excavators, known as “poclains”, in the areas concerned. The former administrators disputed the allegations concerning their use and said they had found sectors that were already degraded, as well as instructions banning the use of such equipment in artisanal gold mining, reports Africaguinée. The hearing is part of the trial of 22 territorial administrators from Siguiri, which opened on 10 November.
