Burkina Faso's state precious-metals company SONASP opened a gold-buying counter for artisanal miners and traders in Tenkodogo on October 29, its fourth after Bobo-Dioulasso, Gaoua and Banfora, news site Burkina24 reported. SONASP, created in 2023, had turnover of more than 3,200bn FCFA (€4.88bn) in 2025, making it the country's largest state-owned company, the outlet said.
Analysis: The reported turnover cannot be verified against published SONASP accounts. At face value, it would equal about 54% of Burkina Faso's 2025 recorded gold exports, by our calculation, although company sales and customs export values are not directly comparable. The 28 state enterprises reviewed in June reported combined turnover of 5,571bn FCFA (€8.49bn), and it was not clear whether SONASP was included. Additional purchasing offices expand the state's direct competition with licensed traders for artisanal gold, which accounted for an estimated 42 tons of the country's 94-ton output in 2025, according to APA. Audited disclosures would be needed to establish SONASP's market share.
Source: Burkina24 (online press), Burkina24, 'Tenkodogo : La SONASP ouvre un nouveau guichet d’achat d’or', October 30, 2026, 2025; Burkina24 (online press), Burkina24, October 30, 2026, As of 29 Oct 2026; INSD, INSD, Note trimestrielle sur les statistiques du commerce extérieur, quatrième trimestre 2025 (cover dated March 2026), Q1 2025 and Q2 2025 and Q3 2025 and Q4 2025; APA News, Ministère de l'Énergie, des Mines et des Carrières – rapport de performance 2025, via APA News, 2025; Burkina24 (online press), Burkina24, 'Entreprises publiques au Burkina Faso : une contribution record de 680 milliards F CFA au budget de l'État en 2025', 27 Jun 2026, 2025