World News
Burkina Faso Reaps $18 Billion in Gold Revenue Under Ibrahim Traoré’s Leadership
Burkina Faso has recorded a remarkable $18 billion in earnings from its gold mining sector since Captain Ibrahim Traoré took office in 2022 a milestone that reflects the country’s renewed control over its natural wealth and a decisive shift away from foreign-dominated mining.
Prior to Traoré’s rise to power, the nation was generating roughly $1 billion a year from gold exports, most of which was managed by multinational corporations.
Under the new administration, however, reforms have restructured mining contracts and strengthened state participation, leading to an almost eighteen-fold surge in revenue within three years.
The government’s resource-sovereignty approach is central to Traoré’s economic vision, emphasizing fairer distribution of profits, self-reliance, and long-term national growth.
Authorities have reclaimed or renegotiated several major mining operations, ensuring that a greater share of profits now flows directly into public coffers to support development initiatives.
Gold remains Burkina Faso’s largest export and one of its key economic pillars, accounting for more than 70% of export earnings.
The surge in mining income has enhanced the country’s fiscal stability and strengthened its ability to fund infrastructure, education, and social programs.
While some analysts caution that reduced foreign participation could affect investment inflows, many citizens view the policy as a long-overdue correction to decades of external exploitation.
Supporters argue that Burkina Faso’s new stance represents a model of economic self-determination for the wider West African region.
By reclaiming ownership of its mineral resources, Burkina Faso under Traoré has not only boosted revenue but also reignited national pride showing that African nations can prosper through sovereignty, accountability, and strategic reform.
Russian authorities have moved to block Meta-owned WhatsApp across the country, citing the company’s failure to meet domestic legal requirements.
Officials say Meta did not establish a local office, declined to cooperate with data-sharing demands, and failed to remove content deemed unlawful.
The government has also linked the messaging platform to cases of fraud and alleged extremist activities.
Following the shutdown, many users in Russia are migrating to alternative platforms such as Telegram, VK Messenger, Yandex Messenger, and the government-supported MAX application.
Dalisto Lungu, the son of Zambia’s late former president Edgar Lungu, has been stripped of assets worth more than US$1.26 million after a ruling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The court found that the properties were obtained through illicit means and ordered their forfeiture to the state. The seized assets include 79 motor vehicles, over 20 pieces of land located in various parts of Zambia, as well as a fuel service station.
In its judgment, the EFCC stated that Lungu failed to provide credible evidence of a lawful income or business operations that could reasonably explain his accumulation of such wealth.
Lungu disputed the allegations, insisting that the properties were legally acquired. However, the court ruled that his explanation was insufficient to counter the state’s case, paving the way for the assets to be confiscated.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has dismissed online allegations suggesting that its founder, Bill Gates, is responsible for a surge in mosquito populations in Kenya.
Responding on X, the foundation clarified that it does not run mosquito laboratories nor release mosquitoes in Nairobi or anywhere else in the country.
It emphasized that all its health-related initiatives are carried out in support of Kenya’s own priorities and strictly follow government regulations.
The statement came after claims shared by Kenyan lawyer and politician Paul Muite gained traction on social media, sparking intense public discussion.
Some posts alleged that genetically modified mosquitoes were being produced and released on a large scale, claims the foundation described as completely untrue.
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of continued concern over malaria, which remains a serious public health issue in the region.
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