Niger, Kamlesh Pattni ink deal to develop a gold refinery
The government of Niger has entered into a joint venture with Suvarna Royal Gold Trading LLC, a Dubai-based company headed by Kamlesh Pattni, a controversial businessman from Kenya. The agreement, signed on April 23, 2025, in Niamey, will lead to the creation of Royal Gold Niger SA.
This new enterprise will establish a gold refinery, a jewelry manufacturing plant, and a gemstone processing center in the capital. Senior government officials, including Mines Minister Commissioner-Colonel Abarchi Ousmane and Budget Minister Mamane Sidi, attended the signing ceremony, where Pattni represented Suvarna.
Despite Kamlesh Pattni’s tainted reputation stemming from his alleged involvement in Kenya’s Goldenberg scandal and recent sanctions by the U.S. and U.K. for suspected gold smuggling and money laundering he was welcomed with honors in Niamey. Niger’s government portrayed the partnership as a strategic move towards greater economic independence. Minister Ousmane described the deal as a “structural revolution,” emphasizing the importance of transforming Niger’s gold domestically to benefit its citizens.
Niger’s plan
The initiative is part of Niger’s broader plan under the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) to enhance control over its mineral resources. Authorities believe that by formalizing artisanal gold mining, which has sustained local communities since the 1950s, they can reduce smuggling, increase state revenues, and ensure that the wealth generated from mining directly benefits the nation. The Nigerien government’s decision to take an equity stake in the venture is seen as a step towards safeguarding national interests and promoting long-term prosperity.
Kamlesh Pattni’s history remains controversial. In the 1990s, he gained global notoriety for his central role in Kenya’s Goldenberg scandal, which involved massive financial fraud and the loss of public funds. Although he has consistently denied wrongdoing, Pattni shifted his operations to Zimbabwe amid growing scrutiny. There, he established ties with the political elite and continued to engage in gold and diamond trading, later expanding to Dubai. Despite adopting the name “Brother Paul” after converting to Christianity, allegations of illicit activities have continued to follow him.
In 2024, both the United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Pattni for allegedly operating an international gold smuggling and money laundering network, particularly involving Zimbabwe. Authorities in both countries cited his use of bribery, shell companies, and complex financial structures to conceal illegal operations. Nevertheless, Niger’s leadership has chosen to move forward with the partnership, framing it as a historic step toward building a resilient and sovereign mining economy.
