On April 3, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, General Michael Langley, head of the United States Africa Command, made remarks that stirred controversy across the Sahel. Langley alleged that Burkina Faso’s gold reserves were not being used for the benefit of its population, but rather to secure the power of the military-led government. Without naming President Ibrahim Traoré directly as a threat, Langley stated that the gold was being exchanged “just in exchange to protect the junta regime.”
The implication drew swift backlash from Ouagadougou. Thirteen days later, the government of Burkina Faso issued a strongly worded statement condemning Langley’s remarks as inaccurate and “regrettable.” They accused the U.S. military leadership of undermining the country’s sovereignty and of making claims without foundation. Officials defended their use of state resources and rejected any suggestion that national wealth was being misused for personal or political security.
Langley’s comments came amid growing scrutiny of U.S. policy in West Africa, especially as the region reconfigures alliances and security arrangements in the wake of multiple military takeovers. Traoré, who seized power in 2022, has remained an enigmatic figure internationally, often critical of Western influence while embracing rhetoric of national dignity and anti-imperial resistance.
The incident has fueled ongoing debates about foreign influence, resource control, and the role of international military partnerships in African governance. For some observers, the general’s statement highlighted long-standing concerns over opaque resource management in Burkina Faso. For others, it signaled a return to Cold War-era narratives where African leaders are judged more by their alignment than by their accountability.
At a time when trust is strained, the fallout underscores how words spoken in Washington can echo far beyond the Capitol—reaching gold mines in the Sahel and stirring political dust in a country still trying to find its footing.