In a stunning revelation that could reshape the geopolitical landscape, Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré has uncovered a staggering $8.7 billion theft orchestrated by the French mining company Mineral X, implicating decades of exploitation in West Africa. The explosive findings emerged after a dramatic raid on the company’s headquarters in Ouagadougou, where a hidden two-ton Swiss safe was unearthed, containing damning documents that expose a web of corruption, environmental devastation, and political manipulation.
On May 10, Traoré’s elite security forces stormed the Mineral X offices, intercepting executives attempting to flee with crucial evidence. What they discovered in the clandestine safe shocked the world: records indicating that the company’s actual gold production was 40% higher than reported, with excess profits funneled to France through illicit channels. This systematic looting has left Burkina Faso in poverty while the company engaged in bribery and environmental negligence, endangering local communities.
The documents revealed not only financial misconduct but also a sinister network involving French intelligence, which facilitated the smuggling of uranium and rare earth elements while silencing dissent. Environmental reports highlighted a dramatic spike in cancer rates linked to mining operations, and internal communications exposed a chilling strategy of neglect that led to the deaths of 347 miners over 15 years.
In response to these explosive revelations, Traoré has temporarily halted all foreign mining operations and launched a comprehensive investigation into the sector. The international community has reacted with alarm; the French government has called for an independent review, while shares of Mineral X plummeted 43% on the Paris Stock Exchange.
This scandal has ignited a wave of protests across Burkina Faso, with citizens rallying in support of Traoré’s bold stance against colonial exploitation. Leaders from neighboring countries are now scrutinizing their own mining contracts, signaling a potential shift toward economic independence across West Africa. As the fallout continues, the world watches closely—this could be the beginning of a new era in which Africa’s resources are reclaimed for its people.