Boucle du Mouhoun Region

Boucle du Mouhoun Region takes its name from the great bend of the Mouhoun River (formerly Black Volta), which curves through this western territory before flowing toward Ghana. This geographic feature historically enabled irrigation agriculture unusual for the Sahel, creating food production capacity that now absorbs displaced populations fleeing violence elsewhere. The region's relative security—compared to northern and eastern zones—has made it a sink for internal migration.

Cotton cultivation dominates commercial agriculture, with the region ranking among Burkina Faso's top producers. The Mouhoun River valley supports rice cultivation and vegetable gardening during the dry season, diversifying beyond rain-fed agriculture. Sorghum and millet provide staple crops for household consumption. This agricultural foundation has attracted development investment, including irrigation schemes that attempt to climate-proof production.

Gold mining adds extractive revenues. Artisanal sites operate alongside industrial concessions, creating employment but also environmental degradation and social tensions. The 2022 and 2024 coups that brought military governments to power have accelerated mining nationalization, with implications for foreign investment that remain uncertain. Whether Boucle du Mouhoun can maintain agricultural productivity while absorbing displaced populations—without triggering resource conflicts—tests the region's carrying capacity.