Burkina Faso: National gold, a lever for economic sovereignty
The mining sector of Burkina Faso is undergoing a major structural transformation. In 2025, the country had 15 industrial mines in operation, which produced 51.5 tonnes of gold over the year, confirming the place of Burkina Faso among the leading gold producers of Africa.
What draws even more attention is the growing role of national players in holding mining assets.
Of the 15 industrial mines in operation, six are now majority-controlled by Burkinabe interests, representing 40% of the national industrial mining fleet.
The remaining 60% remain under foreign control, with nine mines in the hands of international operators.
However, this imbalance is gradually narrowing, thanks to a proactive policy of progressive nationalization pursued by the transitional authorities.
This dynamic is part of a broader movement observed across West Africa, where several states are seeking to regain control over their natural resources long exploited for the benefit of foreign multinationals with what is seen as insufficient returns for local populations.
For Ouagadougou, the stakes are clear: to transform the gold beneath its soil into a genuine engine of endogenous development.
The trajectory set in 2025 suggests that Burkina Faso intends to make its mining sovereignty a tangible reality, no longer just a political horizon.
Maurice K.ZONGO
