Burkina Faso Opens First Gold Refinery in Push for Resource Sovereignty

Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first gold refinery, a step the country's military-led government frames as part of a broader drive for economic sovereignty and greater control over its natural resources.

Speaking at the opening on Monday, President Ibrahim Traore said the country's gold should no longer leave its borders in raw form. "From now on, gold from Burkina Faso must not only be extracted in Burkina Faso, it must be processed, controlled, valued and certified in Burkina Faso," he said.

The refinery, known as Raffinor-BF, is built on five hectares in the capital, Ouagadougou. The presidency said it has a capacity of 164 tonnes of gold per year, with a target capacity of 515 tonnes. Burkina Faso produced 94 tonnes of gold last year, according to the authorities.

The project cost more than 11 billion CFA francs, or about $19 million, and was financed by the government, including through the National Precious Metals Company, SONASP, along with private-sector participation.

Traore, who has ruled the West African country since a 2022 military coup, has presented natural resources as a question of national sovereignty. "Natural resources belong to the people," he said. "They must contribute to improve their living conditions, with respect for the environment, social justice and in the interest of future generations."

The refinery is part of the junta's campaign to reduce dependence on foreign states and companies, particularly in the West, and to process raw materials at home rather than exporting them unrefined.

Burkina Faso is one of the region's main gold exporters, but the sector has been disrupted by extremist violence that has intensified since the military seized power. The country of about 23 million people has endured years of attacks by groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, while government forces have also been accused of extrajudicial killings.

Since taking power in 2022, the junta has faced accusations of killing civilians, cracking down on political dissent and journalists, shutting independent media outlets and forcibly conscripting dissidents into the army to fight Islamic militants.

Across West Africa, governments are moving to reclaim control over their mineral wealth by rewriting mining codes, banning exports of raw produce and increasing state ownership. Guinea and Ghana recently restricted gold exports. Mali has said it is building a gold refinery with Russia's Yadran Group, and Ivory Coast has announced it will open one next year.