The Sahel Solidarity Campaign Network (SaS-CaN) has denounced allegations by U.S. General Michael Langley accusing Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré of misusing gold revenues to sustain his government.
In a sharply worded statement released April 20, 2025, the pan-African coalition labeled the claims “racist,” “baseless,” and part of a broader campaign to undermine sovereignty in the Sahel region.
Langley, commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), testified before a U.S. Senate hearing on April 3, asserting that Traoré’s administration diverted mining profits for political gain rather than combating terrorism. SaS-CaN dismissed the remarks as a “neo-colonial ploy” to destabilize the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The group emphasized Traoré’s grassroots reputation as a military leader who rose to power vowing to prioritize national security and economic self-reliance.
“General Langley’s report is a hatchet job filled with grudges and ill intent,” the statement read, questioning why the U.S. has not addressed historical corruption by past African leaders or repatriated wealth allegedly stolen by Traoré’s predecessors. It also criticized the U.S. for using the term “shitholes,” referencing a 2018 remark by former President Donald Trump, while accusing AFRICOM of fueling instability through its operations based in Ivory Coast.
The network linked Langley’s testimony to recent reports of a 50-billion-barrel oil discovery in Burkina Faso, suggesting external powers aim to exploit the nation’s resources. It further alleged that U.S. aid via agencies like USAID indirectly funds terrorist groups such as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Mushimin (JNIM), though no evidence was provided.
SaS-CaN’s rebuke comes amid heightened tensions between Sahel nations and Western governments. Since Traoré’s 2022 rise to power, Burkina Faso has pivoted toward regional partnerships, distancing itself from French military support and advocating for reduced foreign intervention. The group framed Langley’s criticism as an extension of longstanding grievances over Western influence, citing the 1987 assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara as a historical parallel.
While the U.S. Senate has yet to respond to the protest, the controversy highlights deepening fissures in U.S.-Africa relations. Analysts note that Traoré’s anti-colonial rhetoric resonates domestically, where frustrations over terrorism and economic stagnation remain acute. However, his administration faces scrutiny over human rights concerns, including allegations of civilian abuses by state-backed militias.
SaS-CaN called for Langley’s dismissal and urged African nations to unite against “imperialist agendas.” The statement concluded with a quote from Traoré: “I serve the Burkinabè people with integrity, which is more precious than any material wealth.”
As Burkina Faso navigates security challenges and resource disputes, the Sahel’s struggle for autonomy continues to collide with global power dynamics, underscoring the delicate balance between sovereignty and international accountability.
