April 23, 2025 – In a recent U.S. Senate hearing on April 3, General Michael Langley, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), accused Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, of diverting the country’s gold reserves for personal security rather than the welfare of its citizens. The statement, made during a discussion on corruption and foreign influence in Africa, has ignited a firestorm of reactions across the continent and beyond, highlighting tensions over Western involvement in African governance.
Langley’s comments come at a time when Burkina Faso, under Traoré’s leadership since a military coup in 2022, is navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.
The West African nation has increasingly distanced itself from traditional allies like France, forging closer ties with Russia and forming a new alliance with Mali and Niger after withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Langley also pointed to growing Chinese and Russian influence in Africa, alleging that Burkina Faso’s mineral revenues and financial flows from Chinese cooperation are being used to sustain the military regime rather than benefit the population.
In response, Traoré has pushed forward with policies aimed at national self-reliance. On April 21, he announced that education in Burkina Faso, from primary to university levels, is now free—a move widely celebrated by supporters but overshadowed by the U.S. allegations.
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The announcement has fueled debates about Traoré’s leadership, with some praising his focus on social development and others questioning his financial priorities, especially as the country grapples with a reported $5.6 billion in external debt as of late 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a South African political party, swiftly condemned Langley’s remarks, calling them an “imperialist tactic” to undermine Burkina Faso’s sovereignty over its natural resources.
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In a statement on April 21, the EFF expressed solidarity with Traoré, asserting that the West seeks to control African nations’ affairs. “We condemn the West’s continued interference in African nations’ affairs and their attempts to control our resources,” the EFF posted on X, using the hashtag #HandsOffBurkinaFaso.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened instability in Burkina Faso. On April 22, the military government announced it had foiled a coup plot allegedly orchestrated from neighboring Ivory Coast, involving former army officers.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana claimed the plot aimed to attack the presidential palace and sow chaos, further complicating the country’s political landscape. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso continues to battle armed jihadist groups controlling an estimated 40% of its territory, with militant violence nearly tripling since the 2022 coup, according to the African Center for Strategic Studies.
International reactions to the U.S. accusations have been mixed. Some X users, like @z_thejust, criticized Langley, labeling him a “General Judas Iscariot” for allegedly betraying African interests. Others, such as @mulla069, accused the U.S. of seeking to exploit Burkina Faso’s resources, drawing parallels to historical interventions in Sierra Leone and Libya. However, supporters of Traoré, including @LegitTargets, highlighted his education reforms as evidence of his commitment to the Burkinabè people.
As Burkina Faso navigates these challenges, the international community remains focused on its political trajectory and the broader implications for the Sahel region, where resource control, security, and foreign influence continue to shape the future.
