Power Play in Burkina Faso: Business Titans Battle for Strategic Energy Assets
A high-stakes corporate rivalry is unfolding in Burkina Faso, as two of the nation’s most influential business figures vie for control of critical fuel distribution assets formerly owned by TotalEnergies. The development signals a major shift in the region’s energy landscape, where local investors are increasingly stepping in to take over strategic infrastructure once dominated by global oil giants.
The contest, first reported by Africa Intelligence, pits banking powerhouse Idrissa Nassa against construction magnate Mahamadou Bonkoungou, two heavyweights whose business empires stretch across West Africa.
At the heart of the dispute lies a vast network of nearly 170 fuel stations, alongside key storage and logistics infrastructure. These assets form the backbone of Burkina Faso’s petroleum distribution system, making their ownership not just commercially valuable but strategically vital to the country’s economic stability.
Idrissa Nassa initially appeared to have secured a decisive lead. In September 2025, his investment arm, Coris Invest Group, finalized a deal in Dakar to acquire TotalEnergies’ local marketing operations. The entity was subsequently rebranded as Barka Energies and relaunched in Ouagadougou, inheriting over two decades of infrastructure development built by TotalEnergies.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Mahamadou Bonkoungou is also reportedly pursuing the same assets, underscoring intensifying competition among domestic investors eager to capitalize on opportunities emerging from the withdrawal of multinational firms.
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Bonkoungou’s rise has been driven by EBOMAF, the construction firm he founded in 1989. Under his leadership, the company has delivered major infrastructure projects across the region, while his broader business portfolio now spans banking, aviation, heavy equipment distribution, and healthcare.
For Nassa, expanding into fuel distribution represents a strategic diversification beyond finance. As founder of Coris Bank International, he has built one of the region’s leading financial institutions, with a footprint across the West African Economic and Monetary Union and beyond.
A Regional Shift in Energy Control
This unfolding rivalry reflects a broader transformation across West Africa’s energy sector. As international oil companies scale back their presence, domestic conglomerates are stepping in to acquire and manage key infrastructure, marking a new era of local ownership and control.
With fuel supply serving as a cornerstone for transportation, mining, and power generation, dominance over a nationwide distribution network translates into significant economic and political influence.
Although Barka Energies has already commenced operations under its new identity, the ongoing contest between Nassa and Bonkoungou suggests that the final ownership structure of these prized assets may still be in flux, keeping industry watchers closely attuned to what could become one of the region’s most consequential business showdowns.
