Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré opens first national gold refinery in Ouagadougou

On September 28, 2026, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, President Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated the country's first gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF. The facility, located on a five-hectare site, is part of a strategy to process gold locally instead of exporting it raw. The project, started in November 2023, aims to increase revenue and create jobs. Burkina Faso produced over 94 tonnes of gold in 2025, ranking among top producers in sub-Saharan Africa. The government emphasizes sovereignty and local value addition.