Burkina Faso: The strategic reconquest of gold mines, a lever for sovereignty and development
Since June 2025, Burkina Faso has taken a decisive step in the management of its natural resources. Five major gold mines—Wahgnion, Boungou, Sanbrado, Kiaka, and Toéga—are now under public management through the Burkina Faso Public Mining Company (SOMIPAB). This strategic decision, driven by the vision of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, marks a clear break from decades of dependence on foreign multinationals.
The recovery of these sites, with an investment of around 80 million dollars, is part of a coherent policy of economic sovereignty. By securing these strategic assets, the Burkinabè government aims not only to ensure a fairer redistribution of mining wealth but also to integrate it into a model of endogenous development.
Already, more than 1,200 direct jobs have been created, while mining training centers are enabling young people to acquire the skills needed to play a role in the gold value chain. The ongoing construction of a national refinery illustrates the determination to process Burkinabe gold locally and reduce dependence on international markets.
The army, as guarantor of national security, has been mobilized to secure these strategic sites, ensuring a favorable environment for economic revival and the retention of local talent.
This dynamic is part of a broader political project: a sovereign, resilient, and Pan-African Burkina Faso. Captain Ibrahim Traoré is making economic decolonization a tangible reality. Reclaiming control over resources means reclaiming control over destiny. It also sends a powerful message to African youth: development is possible, provided we believe in our abilities and build with our own hands.
The true wealth of a nation does not lie in what it exports, but in what it transforms to improve the daily lives of its citizens.
