Tigray Task Force Seizes Over 12,000 Grams of Mercury in Illegal Mining Crackdown

Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa 

November   10, 2025

The Tigray Task Force has confiscated more than 12,000 grams of mercury used in illegal mining, despite bans on hazardous chemicals. Since its inception, it has seized nearly 13,000 grams of mercury and 105 kilograms of cyanide, revealing significant enforcement gaps and weak compliance. A meeting in Axum is assessing the Task Force’s findings and next steps. The initiative aims to restore oversight in Tigray’s mining sector and address financial losses from illegal operations, which are estimated to cost billions of birr. Environmental and health risks from these practices have been previously documented.