Burkina Faso Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

From Liberation to Exploitation: Russia’s Resource Deals in Africa

The recent agreement between the Burkinabé government and the Russian company Nordgold—previously owned by Alexey Mordashov, a sanctioned Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin—signals a deliberate and strategic…

April 29, 2025Burkina Faso, Russia

Coup Democracy

Warning Signs in Ouagadougou: Assessing the Risk of a Coup in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, already reeling from political instability and escalating jihadist violence, is showing early signs of another potential coup. Since 2022, the West African nation has experienced two military takeovers, and…

April 22, 2025Burkina Faso

Democracy Geopolitics Governance

From Transition to Tenure: Niger’s Military Government Digs In and the Future of West Africa’s Juntas

Niger's junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has been sworn in for an additional five-year transition period. Per his previous statements, this transition was expected to conclude this year, leading to…

March 27, 2025Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

Coup Democracy Governance profile

Ibrahim Traoré, Russian Influence, and U.S. Policy Challenges

Ibrahim Traoré, the current leader of Burkina Faso, is a military officer who took power through a coup in 2022. Here is an analysis based on his public actions, speeches,…

February 25, 2025Burkina Faso, France, Russia, USA, Wagner Group

Geopolitics Governance

Self-promotion in Mali and rapprochement in Niger: signs of domestic differences in junta-led states

Asimi Goita, (the junta leader of Mali since 2021) promoted himself and assumed the special title of "supreme" commander of the "land army". He went further to promote five other…

October 31, 2024Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sahel

Geopolitics

Military juntas’ confederation project may be orchestrated in Moscow

As part of its colonialist policy in Africa, Russia has launched the process of creating a puppet Confederation project involving Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Therefore, by using its control over…

March 11, 2024Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

Coup Intelligence ops

Russia benefits from military coup in Burkina Faso

Russia is making gains in its campaign for military and political influence in the West Africa. Russian propagandist Sergei Markov publicly confessed that the Kremlin had assisted the coup leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore. The coup…

October 4, 2022Burkina Faso, Russia, Wagner Group

Coup Governance

Burkina Faso: yet another military coup – a void for Russia to fill

Burkina Faso coup weakens Paris' local alliances, emboldens jihadists controlling large swathes of territory and gives the opportunity for Russia to fill the vacuum. This coup puts the French in…

January 26, 2022Burkina Faso, France, Russia

Terrorism

Gold mines in Burkina Faso fuel militant and jihadist groups

For the past five years, terrorist groups have been controlling gold deposits in the areas of Burkina Faso where the government is virtually absent. They use this control as the…

September 3, 2021Burkina Faso, gold, jihadism, UAE

War crimes

Government weakness and land disputes lead to violence in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has seen a recent surge in violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands. Rights group accused security forces of executing at least 180 Fulanis in…

October 13, 2020Burkina Faso, terrorism

Burkina Faso