The United States through its Africa Command (AFRICOM) has accused Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré of using the country’s gold resources for personal protection rather than the welfare of its people.
The claim was made during a recent US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, where the Commander General of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Michael Langley, delivered the Command’s 2025 posture statement.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré who was born on 14 March 1988, is a Burkinabé military officer and politician who assumed office as the interim President of Burkina Faso in September 2022 after overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba.
A report stated that the situation reflects deepening geo-political struggles in the Sahel region, where Burkina Faso’s leadership is navigating internal instability, foreign interference, and insurgency threats.
DailyMentor further said Traoré’s administration continues to face significant challenges, including violent insurgencies and political plots, while also pushing for sovereignty and accountability in a country long plagued by instability.
According to Business Insider Africa, Burkina Faso has also reacted through a communiqué, stressing that the Burkinabè government strongly condemned the US general’s remarks, describing them as “regrettable” and “gravely inaccurate.”
The report added that the country criticised General Langley for making sweeping claims without evidence and for failing to acknowledge Burkina Faso’s evolving sovereign policy direction.
“We reaffirm our commitment to fighting corruption, promoting transparency, and equitably distributing national resources. These ongoing reforms reflect our dedication to serving the Burkinabè people,” the Burkina Faso government said.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters of South Africa (EFF) has condemned the interference in African nation affairs, saying it supports Traoré’s efforts to reclaim Burkina Faso’s gold for the benefit of its people and to resist neo-colonial pressures.
EFF’s post on X reads in part, “This accusation, presented during a U.S. Senate hearing, is a blatant attempt to undermine Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and control over its natural resources due to their imperialist greed.
“We, condemn the West’s continued interference in African nations’ affairs and their attempts to control our resources. The EFF supports Captain Traoré’s efforts to reclaim Burkina Faso’s gold for the benefit of its people and to resist neo-colonial pressures,” it stated.
Several social media accounts and YouTube channels here and here claimed that the US wants to arrest Captain Traoré. Our findings revealed that there is no credible evidence to confirm this as there is no official statement from either the US government or AFRICOM to support this claim.
