Jump to navigation

Burkina Faso

Pros and cons of a gold rush

PREVIEW

Traore’s regime is eyeing increased revenues but its Islamist opponents also see opportunity

Burkina Faso’s military government says that industrial gold production will increase by 4% this year on the back of projects led by Mauritian and Australian firms. That extra output, combined with record gold prices, could help provide the funds for President Ibrahim Traoré to fight an Islamist insurgency that is growing stronger.

Traore has identified gold as the country’s most important export, re-writing the mining code in 2023 to allow the government to obtain larger royalty payments from companies. His government also plans to nationalise more foreign-owned industrial mines (AC Vol 66 No 9, The juntas join the gold rush).

But the US has warned that Islamist militants are getting closer to the West African coast, with Africa Command leader General Michael Langley noting that the insurgents would ‘love to be able to get to the coastline to connect those revenue streams.’ That could include gold smuggling.

Langley added that ‘extremist organisations are starting to make their way further to the west and really starting to coalesce in Burkina Faso’.

Copyright © Africa Confidential 2026
https://www.africa-confidential.com

Prepared for Free Article on 14/04/2026 at 18:42. Authorized users may download, save, and print articles for their own use, but may not further disseminate these articles in their electronic form without express written permission from Africa Confidential / Asempa Limited. Contact subscriptions@africa-confidential.com.

Related Articles

The juntas join the gold rush

On 23 April, Niger advanced its mineral development by partnering with Emirati firm Suvarna Royal Gold Trading LLC. The deal, formalised in Niamey, establishes Royal Gold Niger SA,...

Five years

The election was not democratic but the President's allies go on backing him

After 18 years in charge of one of the world's poorest countries, President Blaise Compaoré has won five more, with a declared 80.35 per cent of the vote....

The politics of counter-terror

The government issues appeals to the West and the region for solidarity and money to resist the jihadist onslaught

Soldiers, civilians, worshippers at a mosque were but some of the dozens of victims of Islamist guerrillas in Burkina as the pace of jihadist attacks on civilians and...

Pressure mounts on Zida

The public is unhappy with Compaoré’s replacement by one of his Praetorians and many fear for the fate of their revolution

In the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of President Blaise Compaoré last week, no one knew who was in charge. Gradually, towards the end of the country’s most...

Junta leader banks on autocracy

The latest captain to run the country wants militias, censorship and army discipline to save the nation from the jihadists, and he doesn’t want help

Military junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré is setting out his programme for victory in the war against militant jihadists, who have taken 40% of the country, killed thousands...


Stories by country

Footer Map