Burkina Faso nationalizes key cotton processor in sovereignty push

The Government of Burkina Faso has nationalized the Société Nouvelle – Huilerie et Savonnerie (SN-CITEC). This strategic decision aims to bolster the economic and food sovereignty of the Nation by bringing a cornerstone of the cotton industry under full state control.

Faced with unstable supply chains, vulnerabilities in the cotton sector, and the disengagement of its majority shareholder, the state has chosen to fully assume its role as the guarantor of the national interest.

Under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, this action is part of a clear policy to place essential industrial tools under national control to ensure they serve the collective good.

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The nationalization of SN-CITEC, which was privatized in 1995, addresses the chronic underperformance of an industrial giant capable of processing 120,000 tonnes of cottonseed annually and producing over 20 million litres of edible oil.

Despite its potential, the company never operated at full capacity due to a lack of sovereign management and issues like parallel exports and unstable local supply.

By taking full control, the state aims to stabilize the entire supply chain from upstream sourcing to downstream processing and empower the Burkinabe industry to play its full role in the  economic transformation of the nation.

Securing raw materials, guaranteeing production continuity, and ensuring localized wealth creation are central to this effort, repositioning SN-CITEC as a key instrument for food sovereignty and industrial independence.

Beyond production figures, this nationalization embodies a broader national vision: a Burkina Faso that no longer allows its vital sectors to depend on private interests or external factors.

It is a lever to protect local producers, strengthen employment, and master the transformation of national resources, making industry a pillar of economic refoundation.

In taking the reins of this strategic enterprise, Burkina Faso asserts that sovereignty is not merely a slogan, but a firm, forward-looking action.

Cédric KABORE