The government of Burkina Faso has firmly dismissed recent remarks made by U.S. AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley, describing them as false and misrepresentative of the country’s governance of natural resources.
General Langley, during his April 3, 2025 testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, reportedly suggested that revenues from Burkina Faso’s mining sector – and certain funds linked to cooperation with China — were being used to reinforce the current regime rather than benefit the general population. The comments sparked a strong reaction from officials in Ouagadougou.
In an official statement issued Tuesday, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré refuted the claims, labeling them “regrettable” and “inaccurate.”
The statement emphasized that since Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed leadership, significant reforms have been introduced to ensure that national wealth, particularly from mining, is managed transparently and used to fund key public services.
According to the Burkinabe government, all mining revenues are now funneled into the state budget and overseen through a rigorous, transparent process.
The statement highlighted recent investments in sectors such as education, health, water, and agriculture, all aimed at improving living conditions for citizens and promoting fair distribution of resources.
The rebuttal comes amid broader shifts in Burkina Faso’s international relations. The country has reduced military cooperation with several Western nations and is forging closer ties with new partners, including China and Russia, as part of a larger strategy to assert national sovereignty.
© WAVN