US General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, accused Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the President of Burkina Faso, of misusing the country’s substantial $4 billion gold reserves.
Langley claims that these resources are being diverted for personal security rather than being utilized to benefit the nation’s 22 million citizens.
This accusation has sparked significant controversy, particularly in light of Traoré’s efforts to assert national control over Burkina Faso’s gold industry.
Captain Traoré, who assumed power in 2022, has been a vocal proponent of African independence.
His administration has taken bold steps, including expelling French troops and challenging longstanding foreign military and economic influences in the Sahel region.
In response to Langley’s allegations, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a prominent South African political party, have come to Traoré’s defense.
They label the accusations as an attempt to destabilize a leader committed to rectifying historical injustices linked to unfair mining agreements.
The EFF argues that Traoré’s initiatives aim to redirect wealth from foreign corporations back into the hands of Burkinabé citizens, fostering national sovereignty and economic independence
