World’s largest cocoa producer seeks to overtake African gold giants as China, Russia, U.S., Canada and Australia lead global gold production

By Jerry  Published On September 21, 2026

Between 2015 and 2024, Côte d’Ivoire expanded its operational gold sites from four to thirteen, driving national output up by over 150% from 23.54 tonnes to more than 59 tonnes.

Industry projections indicate that the launch of Endeavour Mining’s Lafigué mine project will push Ivorian production to approximately 62 tonnes, moving the eighth-ranked nation closer to its regional competitors.

Lanouvelle Tribune noted, to claim the top position in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire must overtake Burkina Faso and Mali, which recorded 2025 gold outputs of 94 tonnes and 82.9 tonnes, respectively.

Both neighboring nations have experienced military coups and subsequently cut ties with traditional Western partners to build defense, energy, and mining ties with Russia through the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States.

Gold currently accounts for roughly 14% of state revenues in Burkina Faso.

Over a year ago, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration granted a new industrial mining licence to Russian firm Nordgold for the Niou site.

Eye Witness News reported that “The licence covers 52.8 square kilometres of land, with total expected production estimated to exceed 20.2 tonnes of gold over eight years, the minutes said.“”The project is estimated to contribute 51 billion CFA francs ($88.7 million) to the state coffers, with another seven billion francs ($12.2 million) going towards the Mining Development Fund, the document said.”

In neighboring Mali, where gold makes up nearly 80% of export value, military leader Colonel Assimi Goita initiated construction on a 200-ton capacity gold refinery near Bamako in collaboration with Russia’s Yadran Group.

Colonel Goita criticized past trade arrangements, stating according to Reuters, “Since 1980, Mali’s gold has been exported for refining and sale to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Switzerland“.

Goita emphasized the economic drawback of raw exports, noting, “This deprives our country of substantial revenues that could be used for the development of its economy“.

As Côte d’Ivoire targets a major rise in gold production, time will tell if it will achieve its goal of outwitting African gold powers like Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana.

Ghana produced 187.3 tonnes of gold, behind China with 384.3 tonnes, Russia with 345 tonnes, Australia with 293.2 tonnes and Canada with 213.3 tonnes, while Peru ranked fifth with 208.9 tonnes. However, Ghana produced more gold than the U.S., which produced 157.0 tonnes.

Source: Africabusinessinsider


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