Burkina Faso is preparing to expand its industrial gold production this year, a move that could help fund the ruling junta’s battle against Islamist militants as the country shifts away from Western support. Gold output is forecast to rise by 4 percent to 55.7 metric tons, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The expected boost is largely due to the ramp-up of two major mining projects. Mauritius-based Soleil Resources International Ltd. has resumed production at the Youga mine in southern Burkina Faso, while Australia’s West African Resources Ltd. is on track to begin operations at its Kiaka mine in the southeast during the third quarter of 2025.
‘Production by the country’s large-scale industrial mines will reach 55.7 tons this year,’ Aristide Belemsobgo, Director General of Mines and Geology at the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries, told Bloomberg in an interview.
Security threat weighs on mining sector
Gold remains Burkina Faso’s most valuable export and has become central to the junta’s economic strategy. Since taking power in a 2022 coup, leader Ibrahim Traoré has identified gold revenue as essential for sustaining national security operations amid an escalating jihadist insurgency.
In recent years, violence across mining regions has forced several operations to halt or scale down. The resumption of production at Youga in October 2024 and the pending launch of the Kiaka site offer a much-needed boost to industrial output.
Belemsobgo confirmed that the Kiaka mine is progressing on schedule, in line with updates previously released by West African Resources.
Small-scale mining outlook unclear
While large-scale operations are set to expand, Belemsobgo did not provide a forecast for artisanal mining, which remains a significant component of Burkina Faso’s gold economy. In 2024, small-scale miners contributed 8.1 tons, bringing total national output to 61.5 tons.
The government continues to grapple with how to regulate artisanal mining, particularly in regions affected by insecurity and informal trade networks.
Junta eyes revenue amid geopolitical realignment
With gold prices reaching historic highs this year, the timing of the production increase could prove crucial. Burkina Faso’s military rulers are counting on rising revenues to help sustain military efforts after severing most ties with traditional Western partners and deepening relations with Russia.
In 2023, the junta revised the national mining code to ensure greater government royalties during commodity booms, further underlining its intent to extract maximum fiscal benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
As the security crisis deepens and international alliances shift, gold is becoming more than an economic pillar—it’s a lifeline.
Credit: Africabriefing
