Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré has denied allegations by U.S. AFRICOM Commander Gen. Michael Langley that Burkina Faso’s gold is financing military activities.
In an interview with Russia’s Sputnik, Traoré labeled the claims as false, asserting national sovereignty and defending his government’s decision to reserve gold for the national treasury—a first in the country’s history.
He accused Western powers of diplomatic hypocrisy and efforts to manipulate African leaders, warning of foreign tactics aimed at destabilizing African nations, similar to Libya’s experience. Highlighting advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and military reform, Traoré called for public corrections to what he termed a disinformation campaign and reaffirmed his commitment to independent governance.
