BURKINA FASO NATIONALISES FIVE MINING ASSETS

On 27 August 2024, Burkina Faso announced that it would nationalise two gold mines, Boungou and Wahgnion, following a legal dispute between London-listed Endeavour Mining and a local company, Lilium Mining.

On 11 June 2025, the government declared that the nationalisation process was complete. The state-owned Burkina Faso Mining Participation Company (SOPAMIB) officially owns and controls the two mines as well as three mining licenses previously held by Endeavour and Lilium Mining.

Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré has expressed interest in revoking more foreign mining permits and granting the state greater control over the mining sector.

Burkina Faso is a member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a Pan-African anti-imperialist confederation that was established on 6 July 2024 and includes neighbouring Mali and Niger. All three countries have revised their mining codes. Mali is involved in an ongoing legal battle against Canadian-based company Barrick Gold, and its assertion of resource sovereignty led to the resignation of Terry Holohan, CEO of Australian company Resolute Mining. In 2024, Niger nationalised two major mines, Imouraren and Somaïr, formerly owned by French public company Orano.