Insecurity ditches Burkina Faso’s gold output

Gold production in Burkina Faso dropped significantly due to a surge in Jihadist activity in a country where military rulers have been in power since September 2022.

As Jihadist groups continue to wreak havoc in the wider Sahel, Burkina Faso suffered the most, accounting for almost a quarter of people killed in terrorist attacks globally in 2023, according to Sydney-based Institute for Economics & Peace.

Six mining companies closed-down in 2022, while one more ceased activity last year. Output of the precious metal fell 1.5% to 57.3 tons in 2023, the Ministry of Mines, Quarries and Energy said.

Terrorist attacks made it difficult to resupply mines with fuel and led investors to shun the country.

Earlier this month, Burkina Faso judicial authorities said an attack on a village in Yatenga province left 170 people dead, including women and children.

The attack came as the military authorities in the country warned against increased risk of attacks by extremist groups, including on urban centers.

The country’s army seized power in 2022, but more than a third of Burkina Faso is controlled by insurgents.