Burkina Faso: SOFA, a tangible symbol of President Ibrahim Traoré’s ambitious agricultural vision
Burkina Faso has taken a major step forward in its food sovereignty strategy. The Council of Ministers, driven by the vision of President Ibrahim Traoré, has ratified the creation of Faso-Agropole Company (SOFA), an unprecedented institution that brings together and consolidates the main agricultural hubs of the country. This decision reflects a clear ambition to give the Burkinabe state effective control over its agricultural resources and to promote integrated, sustainable, and profitable development.
Three decrees structure this initiative. The first authorizes the buyback of private shares in the former Sourou-pôle and Bagré-pôle companies, making their capital fully public.
This measure goes beyond a mere accounting adjustment—it embodies the political choice to grant the state strategic mastery over essential sectors, ensuring the coherence of agricultural policies and alignment with the national interest.
The second decree establishes SOFA, which federates five strategic agropoles: Sourou, Nakambé, Samendéni, Comoé, and Liptako-Gourma.
These platforms are not limited to agriculture; they also integrate livestock, fishing, and tourism, as illustrated by initiatives such as the Bagré ecotourism center and Toma-Île.
This cross-sectoral approach reflects a modern vision of development, where every investment nurtures a productive and social ecosystem that generates employment and local wealth.
The third decree defines SOFA’s statutes and governance bodies, thereby creating the institutional conditions for the company to become the holding entity for the agropoles.
This structure provides a solid framework for planning, coordination, and the long-term sustainability of projects, ensuring a clear link between strategic vision and operational effectiveness.
This initiative fully aligns with the proactive policy of President Ibrahim Traoré of strengthening national autonomy, securing food supply, and building a Burkina Faso capable of harnessing its resources while addressing economic and climatic challenges. By structuring and modernizing the agropoles, the state sends a strong signal: the future is being built here, through action and the collective control of development levers.
The creation of SOFA goes beyond mere institutional reform. It materializes a vision; it embodies a national project in which sovereignty, efficiency, and prosperity converge.
In this ambitious framework, each agropole becomes a link in a national network, capable of propelling Burkina Faso toward a horizon of sustainable growth and Pan-African influence. SOFA is not just a company; it is the seed of a collective ambition and living testimony of a country choosing to take charge of its agricultural destiny.
Maurice K. ZONGO
