The Burkinabe government has taken full control of SN-CITEC, the nation’s largest oilseed processing company, in a bid to secure its food supply and strengthen industrial self-reliance.
The move follows the announcement by the company’s majority shareholder that they intended to sell their 53% stake.
Industry Minister Serge Poda described the decision as a strategic step toward industrial sovereignty, emphasizing the state’s commitment to maintaining stable production and safeguarding domestic resources.
Negotiations to acquire the private shares had stalled, prompting the government to move toward complete nationalization.
SN-CITEC, part of the GEOCOTON group, produces edible oils, animal feed, oilseed cake, and household soap.
Its operations are closely tied to the country’s cotton industry, providing employment and supporting local farmers. Although the facility has the potential to process 120,000 tons of cottonseed annually and produce millions of liters of oil, current output has been roughly half of its capacity, largely due to irregular cotton supplies and export pressures.
The government hopes that taking control will allow SN-CITEC to fully exploit its production capacity, stabilize the supply of raw materials, and play a central role in the nation’s economic and food security strategy.
Officials view the nationalization as a crucial step in protecting both jobs and local industries while increasing the value derived from domestic cottonseed.
