Laongo, Burkina Faso – On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the interim leader of Burkina Faso, inaugurated the Société Industrielle Sino-Burkinabè de Ciments SA (CISINOB SA), a new cement factory in Laongo, located in the Plateau-Central region’s Ziniaré commune. The event marks a significant milestone in Burkina Faso’s efforts to strengthen its economy and create jobs, while deepening ties with the People’s Republic of China.
The state-of-the-art cement plant, with an initial production capacity of 2,000 tons per day, is expected to produce up to 1.2 million tons annually in the long term, according to Zhang Bing, Deputy General Manager of CISINOB SA. The factory has already created 110 permanent jobs and 300 seasonal positions, with projections to generate 1,300 jobs as operations expand. Captain Traoré hailed the project as a symbol of a “mutually advantageous partnership” that respects Burkina Faso’s sovereignty, emphasizing his government’s openness to sincere international collaborations.
Since leading a coup in September 2022, Traoré has prioritized economic self-sufficiency and diversification of international partnerships, moving away from traditional allies like France and forging closer ties with China, Russia, and other non-Western powers. The CISINOB SA project aligns with this strategy, reinforcing Burkina Faso’s commitment to industrial growth amid ongoing security challenges.
Traoré, who has faced criticism for his military rule but also garnered support for his anti-corruption stance and focus on national development, used the occasion to congratulate the Chinese and Burkinabè promoters of the project. He also called on other industrial players in the cement sector to ensure quality products at affordable prices, signaling his administration’s intent to prioritize consumer welfare.
The partnership with China builds on a rekindled diplomatic relationship established in 2018, when Burkina Faso severed ties with Taiwan and realigned with Beijing. Since then, China has expressed interest in collaborating with Burkina Faso under its Belt and Road Initiative, focusing on infrastructure and economic projects like CISINOB SA. This move underscores Burkina Faso’s position as a key player in China’s expanding influence in West Africa, despite regional tensions and its alignment with military-led neighbors Mali and Niger in the Alliance of Sahel States.
As Burkina Faso pushes forward with this ambitious project, the CISINOB SA cement factory stands as a beacon of hope for economic revitalization and a testament to Traoré’s vision of a self-reliant Burkina Faso, firmly anchored in strategic partnerships that prioritize national sovereignty and development.