Ibrahim Traoré

Burkina Faso
Paris and Ouagadougou appoint new ambassadors

Ouagadougou has made its choice of new ambassador in Paris. France is expected to agree, but is still waiting for the approval of the Burkinabe authorities for the future French representative in Burkina Faso.

West Africa
Yacoub Sidya, Russian group Nordgold's invisible partner

Companies linked to Mauritanian businessman Yacoub Sidya are omnipresent around the African operations of Russian miner Nordgold, which was hit by sanctions after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The gold mining firm, however, takes great care to remain in the background.

Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou edges closer to gold refinery build

Ibrahim Traoré is determined to push through a gold refinery project to generate much-needed revenue, and the Ministry of Mines is drafting a bill that would make it mandatory for gold producers to refine part of their local production in the country.

Burkina Faso
Junta pressures mining industry into contributing to war effort

The junta, which is in financial difficulty, particularly because of the cost of its battle with the armed groups rife in northern and eastern Burkina Faso, is doing all it can to get its hands on the cash generated by the mines.

Africa
Macron appoints his new ambassadors, from Ouagadougou to Brazzaville

The French president has just appointed several ambassadors to strategic posts in Africa in Burkina Faso, Angola, Chad, Congo and Eritrea.

Burkina Faso
Traoré appoints his ex-professor Nicolas Kagambéga as mining adviser

A senior official at the mines ministry has been made special adviser to the junta leader, who was his student at the university of Ouagadougou. But his appointment could spark tensions within the mining sector.

Burkina Faso
Traoré's cabinet greenlights mysterious Tambao buyer

An obscure Turkish firm picked up two prized Burkinabe mining permits on 10 March: the Tambao manganese deposit, which has estimated reserves of 55m tonnes, and the Inata gold permit.

Burkina Faso
Burkinabe junta procures arms via circuitous routes

The junta in Burkina Faso has entered into discussions with several capitals in the sub-region, including Bamako and Abidjan, in a quest to equip both the armed forces and the VDP with automatic rifles.

Burkina Faso
Under sanctions, Nordgold adjusts its strategy

Alexei Mordashov's company is stepping up its efforts at its Bissa Gold concession in the centre of Burkina Faso, which is less exposed to security risks. At the same time, the Russian firm is trying to persuade the ruling junta to allow it to settle some of its tax and royalty dues in gold and to lift a ban on exporting its output.

Mauritania
Saudis strengthen foothold in G5 Sahel Defense College

The G5 Sahel Defense College in Nouakchott, which trains 40 officer cadets from West African armies each year, is currently hosting 20 colonels from the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF). Military collaboration between Mauritania and Riyadh is growing.

Burkina Faso
French diplomatic operations face turbulent times in Ouagadougou

Three months after Traoré's coup d'état, during which several French interests were attacked, Paris has yet to find a way to re-establish control in the country. Its ambassador's days are numbered and the departure of the Sabre task force is underway.

Burkina Faso
Wanted: local investors to save Air Burkina

After the illusory hopes raised by the US firm African Global Development, the Burkinabe authorities are exploring other options to save the continent's oldest airline from going under.

Burkina Faso, Russia
Nordgold's new boss in Ouagadougou for talks with junta

Georgy Smirnov, the new managing director of the Russian gold company, travelled discreetly to Burkina Faso's capital to try and reach an agreement with Ibrahim Traoré's junta on its gold exports and the future of its Taparko, Bissa and Bouly sites.

Burkina Faso, France
Junta rebuffs Paris over military cooperation

Two months after the coup, Burkina Faso's strongman is reluctant to accept operational support from France. A withdrawal of the Sabre force is now being discussed by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Aristides Gomès, Omar Denis Bongo Junior

Intrigues big and small... Every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso Ouattara wary of the Burkinabe PM

Congo Arlette Soudan-Nonault still enjoying the limelight

Guinea-Bissau Former PM Gomès calls on France and the UN to help

Equatorial Guinea Omar Denis Bongo Junior supports Obiang in Malabo