Burkina Faso don open im first national gold refinery for Ouagadougou. Ibrahim Traoré inaugurate di plant, RAFFINOR-BF, on 28 September 2026. Presidency tok say di country don cross historic step for im quest for economic independence.
Burkina Faso na third gold producer for Africa. Di country produce more than 94 tonnes of gold last year, according to World Gold Council. But authorities dey struggle to control informal gold mining, and jihadist violence and smuggling don scatter di sector.
Under Ibrahim Traoré, wey take power through coup for 2022, Burkina Faso nationalize several gold mines and launch campaign to revive industrial production, from cotton to tomatoes reach textile. Traoré tok say, ‘Our ambition no be to be country wey just dey extract and export raw materials. We want refine all our metals locally. We want make di whole value chain dey here.’
For 2024, Burkina Faso suspend export of gold from informal mining so e go ‘better organize’ di sector, Minister of Mines Yacouba Zabre Gouba tok dat time. Traoré warn say plenty gold dey comot di country fraudulently, and e dey feed terrorism.
Burkina Faso dey inside fight against jihadist groups wey control large part of di country and dey attack, even with massive civil volunteer force wey dey support army. Gold, wey pipo see as safe haven, don reach record prices, and di market dey fuel different kinds of trafficking, including for jihadists for Sahel.
Presidency tok say RAFFINOR-BF, wey dem dey construct since 2023, get annual production capacity of 164 tonnes of gold, and long-term projected capacity of 515 tonnes. Di refinery cost 11 billion CFA francs, around 19 million dollars, and government finance am in partnership with national private sector.
Civil society actor Jonas Hien, from mining sector ONG ORCADE, tok say with di inauguration, e fit sleep tranquil now. But he call for mobilization to make sure citizen vigilance dey, so dat no unpleasant surprise go happen.
RAFFINOR-BF suppose produce gold wey pure reach 99.99 percent, wey match international Good Delivery standard. For long time, Burkina Faso dey export gold go outside to refine. Di new refinery na way to stop raw export, increase revenue for state and local collectivities, and fight some forms of fraud. But e no mean say all gold wey dem export before na fraud, or say refining abroad automatically remove public receipts. E mean say di country no get own industrial tool to control dat stage of di value chain.
Where dem dey refine our gold, no representative of state dey present. Dem dey refine our gold without us. Na one major issue RAFFINOR-BF wan address. National refinery go bring activities, skills, jobs and information back inside di country. Investment pass 11 billion CFA francs. First phase capacity na 164 tonnes per year, later e fit reach more than 500 tonnes per year, with plenty direct and indirect jobs.
Around refinery, work fit grow for logistics, security, maintenance, laboratories, storage, secure transport, jewelry, financial services and specialized training. Di real question be whether Burkinabè businesses and skills go fit take their place for dat ecosystem.
Refinery also be instrument of economic sovereignty. Country fit rich in natural resources but still depend on actors and infrastructure outside im borders. Sovereignty no be just to get resource for underground. E mean say you sabi wetin you produce, you transform am, you valorize am, you control di flows, and you use di revenue for national development.
Civil society organizations don push for years make Burkina Faso no just extract resources, but develop national capacity for transformation and valorization. Jonas Hien tok say dis concern don resolve. He salute di authorities for di strong act. He tok say he dey more than content. But he add say di work remain to continue citizen vigilance, because every actor must play im part.
Di refinery must dey managed with rigour, transparency and efficiency. Dem must protect am from all kinds of risk. September 28, 2026 no suppose be just date wey dem inaugurate factory. E suppose be step for building new relationship between Burkina Faso and im mining wealth. Camarade Président du Faso, merci encore!
