Since 2015, Burkina Faso has faced attacks by armed terrorist groups (Groupes armés terroristes, GAT). These groups directly and indirectly exploit certain abandoned artisanal and industrial mining sites and smuggle large quantities of gold out of the country to neighbouring countries. The revenue generated by this trafficking helps to finance terrorism. In order to combat terrorism effectively, the Government has set up a think-tank tasked with making proposals for action to curb the financing of terrorism, particularly from artisanal mining. Several recommendations have been made. These include securing artisanal and semi-mechanised [1] mining sites; setting up a gold refinery; strengthening cooperation with countries of destination or transit for gold exported from Burkina Faso; raising awareness and informing players in the marketing chain about the regulations in force on the marketing of gold and other precious substances in Burkina Faso; the fight against money laundering for the financing of terrorism; the establishment of a mechanism for the exchange of information between structures authorised to fight against gold fraud; the encouragement of the public to denounce gold fraud.
