Burkina Faso: Under the leadership of President Ibrahim Traoré, the country regains control of its gold

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power, Burkina Faso has taken a strategic turn in the management of its natural resources. Gone are the days when mining operations benefited only a handful of local and foreign actors. A new era has begun—one defined by sovereignty, transparency, and economic benefits for all.

For years, Burkina Faso’s gold sector was synonymous with opacity. Gold flowed abundantly, yet few saw the benefits. Multinational companies took the lion’s share, while the state and local communities received only scraps. This imbalance was all the more frustrating given that the country is one of Africa’s top gold producers.

President Ibrahim Traoré is determined to end this disparity. His top priority: to turn gold into a driver of national development rather than a source of enrichment for a privileged few. His ambition is taking shape through a key reform—the creation of the National Mining Participation Company (SNPM). The goal is to restore the state’s central role in the mining sector, notably by reclaiming assets previously held by foreign companies.

Beyond gaining control, Burkina Faso also aims to build a strategic gold reserve—a sovereign move designed to stabilize the currency, secure international trade, and reduce the country’s financial dependence.

But the president’s vision goes even further. The new mining policy also reflects a strong commitment to fair redistribution. By promoting local processing of resources, strengthening oversight mechanisms, and ensuring greater accountability, the authorities seek to make gold a tool for poverty reduction and a driver of local economic growth.

With this policy, Burkina Faso is outlining a new social contract centered on its natural wealth—a promise of economic justice and restored dignity.