Sahel Military Governments Nationalize Gold Mines Amid Resource Sovereignty Drive

Sahel Military Governments Nationalize Gold Mines Amid Resource Sovereignty Drive
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In Africa’s Sahel region, the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are increasingly nationalizing gold mines to reclaim control over their mineral wealth, Anadolu Agency reported. This surge in resource nationalism follows a series of military coups between 2020 and 2023 that toppled civilian governments, shifting economic policy towards national sovereignty and away from Western influence.

For decades after independence, foreign companies and artisanal miners dominated the mining sectors in these countries, with governments sidelined due to limited infrastructure, weak capital, and neoliberal policies. However, the rise of military juntas has reversed this trend. In September 2023, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and formally exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025, signaling a new geopolitical direction.

Mali, Africa’s second-largest gold producer with 100 tons in 2024, has introduced a mining code requiring up to 35% state ownership and nationalized key mines such as B2Gold’s Fekola and Barrick Gold’s Loulo-Gounkoto complex. Barrick Gold has responded by filing for arbitration at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. Burkina Faso, producing 94.4 tons of gold, has also revised its mining code, nationalized several mines, and opened its first national gold refinery. Niger, with 33.6 tons of gold production, has focused nationalization efforts mainly on uranium, revoking French company Orano’s license and taking control of the Somair uranium mine.

The nationalization drive coincides with a worsening security crisis. Armed groups control and tax informal gold mining sites, especially in Burkina Faso and northern Mali, which limits government control and complicates efforts to attract foreign investment. Informal mining has become the largest employer in the region, but insecurity and political instability pose significant challenges.

New geopolitical alignments with Russia, China, and Türkiye have emboldened Sahel states to reduce dependence on Europe. However, experts warn that the militaries’ capacity to manage large-scale mines independently remains uncertain, and ongoing instability may deter fresh investment despite rising gold prices.