In January 2023, Burkina Faso was excluded from the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to concerns over its political instability after two military coups in 2022. The Biden administration emphasized the country’s failure to meet AGOA’s human rights and governance standards. As Burkina Faso faces economic fallout, thousands rallied in support of transitional President Ibrahim Traoré, accusing U.S. officials of false claims about mining exploitation and vowing to defend the junta against perceived foreign interference.