World’s largest cocoa producer takes aim at two Russian-backed African gold powers as China, Russia, Canada and Australia dominate the global gold race

Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer, is actively expanding its mining sector to diversify national revenues away from agriculture. After establishing the Ivorian Precious Metals Company, government officials set a 2035 deadline to surpass regional Russian-backed gold producers Mali and Burkina Faso before eventually targeting continental leader Ghana.