oluwatosin oyeniyi OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Burkina Faso has marked four years since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power, with supporters gathering in Ouagadougou to celebrate the military government’s record while the country continues to face a persistent jihadist insurgency.
Crowds gathered at the Place de la Révolution on Wednesday, September 30, for anniversary events that highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the armed forces and assert greater national control over Burkina Faso’s resources. Residents at the gathering praised the reorganisation of the military and the creation of Rapid Intervention Battalions as part of the fight against armed groups.
The anniversary comes as Traoré’s government increasingly presents economic sovereignty alongside military security as central to its political project.
From Military Takeover to Prolonged Rule
Traoré came to power on September 30, 2022, overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had seized power earlier that year.
The takeover was driven largely by frustration over the worsening security situation and the government’s inability to contain armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Four years later, however, the security crisis remains unresolved. Jihadist groups continue to carry out attacks in parts of the country, while some towns have faced prolonged blockades and disruptions to access.
The government says it has expanded military capacity and reclaimed territory. But the continued presence of armed groups means security remains the central measure against which Traoré’s government is judged.
The prolonged military rule has also changed Burkina Faso’s political landscape. In April, Traoré said the country should put aside the idea of democracy for the time being, arguing that elections would only be possible once security conditions improve. His government has also dissolved political parties, while rights organisations have raised concerns about restrictions on political activity, press freedom and civic space.
Gold Refinery Signals Economic Shift
Alongside the anniversary celebrations, Burkina Faso is highlighting a major development in its mining sector.
On September 28, Traoré inaugurated RAFFINOR-BF, the country’s first domestic gold refinery, in Ouagadougou. The facility is designed to allow gold to be processed, tested, certified and stored within Burkina Faso rather than sending the mineral abroad for further processing.
The refinery was built at a cost of more than 11 billion CFA francs, about $19 million, and has an initial theoretical refining capacity of 164 tonnes a year. Authorities plan to eventually increase capacity to 515 tonnes.
For a country where gold is the leading export, the facility represents an attempt to retain more economic value within the national economy.
Traoré has argued that Burkina Faso should move beyond extracting and exporting raw resources and instead develop a complete domestic value chain. The government has similarly increased state involvement in the mining sector and promoted greater local control of strategic resources.
The refinery therefore fits into a broader policy shift across the Sahel, where governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have sought greater control over natural resources and reduced dependence on traditional Western partners.
Economic Sovereignty Meets a Security Crisis
The gold refinery also highlights one of the contradictions facing Burkina Faso.
Economic projects can create greater domestic value, strengthen state revenue and potentially support industrial development. But those gains depend on the country’s ability to maintain secure mining regions, regulate informal production and prevent illicit gold trafficking.
Burkina Faso produced more than 94 tonnes of gold in 2025, according to figures cited by the Associated Press. Yet the country continues to confront insecurity and illegal mining networks that complicate efforts to fully regulate the sector.
The refinery’s success will therefore depend not only on its processing capacity but also on transparent supply chains, effective regulation and the ability to connect mining revenues to wider economic development.
A Four-Year Record Still Under Pressure
Traoré’s four years in power have consequently produced a mixed picture.
His government has pursued military expansion, closer cooperation with Russia and greater alignment with Mali and Niger through the Alliance of Sahel States. It has also promoted local industrial projects and greater state participation in the economy.
At the same time, Burkina Faso remains affected by armed violence and a large humanitarian burden. The persistence of insecurity means that economic sovereignty alone cannot resolve the country’s wider development challenges.
For communities affected by displacement, disrupted services and insecurity, the significance of new infrastructure will ultimately depend on whether it translates into safer communities, employment, public services and sustainable livelihoods.
What Comes Next
The next phase of Burkina Faso’s trajectory will require progress on both fronts.
The government faces pressure to improve security while ensuring that military operations protect civilians and respect basic rights. At the same time, projects such as RAFFINOR-BF will need strong oversight if they are to deliver meaningful economic benefits beyond symbolic value.
For the gold sector, that means transparent licensing, responsible mining, stronger controls against illicit trade and clear mechanisms for directing mineral revenues towards public development.
Four years after Traoré’s rise, Burkina Faso is pursuing a model centred on security, sovereignty and domestic control of its resources. The gold refinery provides a tangible example of that strategy. But its broader success will depend on whether these initiatives can be matched by lasting improvements in security, governance and the everyday economic conditions of Burkinabè citizens.
The anniversary, therefore, marks not simply four years of military rule, but another point at which the government’s promises of sovereignty and national renewal face the realities of a country still confronting a complex security crisis.
