The country's central bank-owned Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) is the sole buyer, refiner and exporter of gold, but has at times struggled to pay producers.

Sundance Resources has filed for international arbitration saying Cameroon and Congo Republic have violated contracts by developing the iron project with Chinese investors.

David Brown intends to step down, jeopardising the future of the company the government hopes will spur an economic revival.

Operations at the Fekola mine, 20 kilometres from the Menankoto permit and projected to produce 530,000 to 560,000 ounces of gold in 2021, have not been impacted.

The Dugbe PEA outlines substantial gold production potential underpinned by the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits.

Congolese authorities have seized 31 kg of gold, in a rare loss for smugglers.