Updated March 26, 2018
Burkina Faso: In Focus
Landlocked with a largely agrarian economy, Burkina Faso
Figure 1. Burkina Faso at a Glance
remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Per-capita
gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $696 in
2017. Nearly 45% of the population is under the age of 14,
life expectancy is less than 56 years, and the infant
mortality rate is the seventh-highest in the world.
Burkina Faso has made progress toward strengthening
democracy and civilian control of the armed forces since a
tumultuous political transition in 2014-2015, but it faces a
range of political and security challenges. Previously, under
the rule of former President Blaise Compaoré (1987-2014),
Burkina Faso was known as a relatively stable, semi-
authoritarian state that dabbled in regional conflicts without

Source: CIA World Factbook and International Monetary Fund (IMF,
being subsumed by them. Compaoré was ousted by a
October 2017); 2017 estimates unless otherwise indicated.
combination of street protests and military intervention in

2014, and a similar mix of actors faced down a coup
attempt by a prominent Compaoré loyalist in 2015. The
As interim leader, Kafando sought reforms to reduce the
power of key pillars of the Compaoré regime, including the
November 2015 election of President Roch Marc Christian
Kaboré marked the country’s first democratic transfer of
ruling party and the RSP itself. In October 2015, RSP
power since independence from France in 1966. A former
commander Gen. Gilbert Diendéré attempted to overthrow
Kafando in a coup, sparking resurgent street protests and
Compaoré ally turned opposition figure, Kaboré has
international condemnation. Ultimately, conventional army
struggled to respond to high popular expectations and
units surrounded the RSP’s barracks, forcing Diendéré’s
public demands for rapid job creation, governance reforms,
surrender and Kafando’s reinstatement. Kafando then
and sweeping prosecutions of former regime figures.
ordered the RSP’s dissolution and disarmament, although
Over the past three years, an Islamist insurgency has
the extent of implementation has been uncertain. Burkinabè
emerged in the rural north, while the capital, Ouagadougou,
courts later brought charges against Diendéré and others in
has been hit by three large terrorist attacks against Western
connection with the 2015 coup attempt, but the trial has
and domestic targets. The growing threat posed by Islamist
been slow to progress. Efforts to prosecute various high-
armed groups is linked to the conflict in neighboring Mali,
level state crimes allegedly committed under Compaoré
where an Al Qaeda-aligned Islamist insurgency has
have largely stalled, prompting frustration among activists.
coalesced and expanded southward since 2015. It also
appears to be increasingly locally rooted, despite Burkina
Presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2015
Faso’s history of stability and religious tolerance.
marked the end of the formal transition period. Kaboré won

the presidency with 54% of the vote, and his People’s
Background
Movement for Progress (MPP) won a slim plurality of seats
Compaoré’s seizure of power in a 1987 coup brought
(55 out of 127) in the National Assembly, later forming a
relative stability after decades of alternating civilian and
ruling coalition with several smaller parties. The political
military rule. Despite his closeness to Libya’s Muammar
opposition is headed by Zéphirin Diabré, leader of the
Qadhafi and reported backing of various rebel groups in
Union for Progress and Change (UPC) party. Diabré came
neighboring states, Compaoré eventually developed a
in second in the 2015 elections, with 30% of the
reputation as a competent leader in a turbulent region, and
presidential vote, and the UPC won 30 Assembly seats.
served as a mediator in several West African political
crises. Compaoré’s 27-year tenure was nonetheless roiled
The Economy
by periodic street protests and army mutinies.
Annual economic growth has averaged over 5% during the
past decade, according to the IMF, but has not consistently
In October 2014, youth-led protesters stormed the National
outpaced population growth. The formal economy relies
Assembly to force the withdrawal of a bill that could have
largely on exports of cotton and gold, for which global
allowed Compaoré to run again for reelection. As protests
prices have fluctuated. The vast majority of the labor force
escalated, and amid indications that a military coup might
is engaged in agriculture, which reportedly generates one-
be under way, Compaoré resigned and fled to Côte d’Ivoire.
third of GDP. Remittances from as many as 3 million
The deputy commander of the elite Presidential Security
Burkinabè residing in wealthier neighboring Côte d’Ivoire
Regiment (RSP) proclaimed himself president, but he later
also contribute to the economy. The State Department’s
accepted the post of Prime Minister in a transitional
2017 Investment Climate Statement reported that Burkina
government led by a career diplomat, Michel Kafando.
Faso “welcomes foreign investment and actively seeks to
attract foreign partners to aid in its development,” but the
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Burkina Faso: In Focus
report identified “poor access to information, a weak
March 2018, JNIM—which has mostly been active in
judiciary, limited enforcement powers of anti-corruption
Mali—claimed a simultaneous attack on the Burkinabè
institutions, misappropriation of public funds, and the lack
military headquarters and the French embassy in
of an effective separation of powers” as key challenges.
Ouagadougou. The attack reportedly killed eight Burkinabè
soldiers and wounded about 80; eight alleged assailants
While the most recent severe food security emergency was
were also killed. It appeared to signal a significant
a 2012 regional drought in the Sahel, endemic food
escalation in the threat facing the country.
insecurity affects much of the population. In 2018, high
prices for staple foods and rising insecurity in the north are
U.S. Policy and Aid
placing additional stress on poor households, according to
U.S. policy has focused on encouraging Burkina Faso’s
the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS-NET).
democratic transition, improving food security, and
About 70% of the population lives in rural areas, where
building counterterrorism capacity. In December 2017,
access to basic services is limited.
then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated (on the
Terrorist Threat
occasion of Burkina Faso’s National Day) that the United
States and Burkina Faso would “continue to work together
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)—an Algerian-
to promote democratic principles, security, economic
origin network active across North and West Africa—has
opportunities, and social development.” Burkina Faso is
cultivated safe havens and local affiliates in neighboring
eligible for U.S. trade benefits under the African Growth
Mali for at least 15 years. AQIM and its local allies have
and Opportunity Act (AGOA, reauthorized in P.L. 114-27).
proven resilient, positioning themselves to leverage the
evolving, complex war in Mali to their advantage and to
“U.S. relations with Burkina Faso are excellent, thanks
withstand an ongoing French military intervention that
in part to strong U.S. support during the 2014-2015
began in 2013. Islamist violence spared Burkina Faso prior
political transition.” State Department Fact Sheet, “U.S.
to 2015, but these groups since appear to have successfully
Relations with Burkina Faso,” October 13, 2017
leveraged proximity and a combination of domestic factors
to expand their influence there.

In Burkina Faso’s rural, predominantly Muslim and ethnic
Bilateral aid is modest by regional standards, totaling $36.7
Fulani north, entrenched patterns of poor governance,
million in FY2017, nearly all for health and food aid
patronage politics, social stratification, and government
programs. Additional funding for food security initiatives
neglect may have fed grievances leveraged by jihadist
has been provided under USAID’s Sahel Regional Program,
groups. Compaoré’s ouster and the decision to dissolve the
which promotes resilience to repeated crises, and through
RSP may also have deprived Burkinabè authorities of
the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), for which Burkina
means to collect intelligence and influence regional jihadist
Faso was made a focus country in 2017. The Trump
networks. Deeper security sector reforms have not
Administration has proposed to decrease bilateral aid for
advanced significantly. Sectarian tensions have also
Burkina Faso in FY2019 to $20.3 million, nearly all of
reportedly risen in recent years, despite a history of
which would be for health programs. Burkina Faso is also
peaceful coexistence among Burkina Faso’s Muslim
developing proposals for a second U.S. Millennium
majority and Christian and animist minority communities.
Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, having completed
The capital, Ouagadougou, experienced its first ever
a five-year, $481 million Compact in 2014 that focused on
terrorist attack in January 2016, when gunmen opened fire
land tenure and management, agricultural productivity, road
at a hotel and coffee shop popular with foreigners—days
infrastructure, and primary school completion for girls.
after the country’s new cabinet was seated following
Burkina Faso has received substantial security assistance
President Kaboré’s inauguration. The assault, claimed
through regional and centrally funded programs, which are
jointly by AQIM and its erstwhile splinter faction Al
not reflected in the bilateral aid figures above. Notably,
Murabitoun, killed 30 people, including a U.S. citizen.
Burkina Faso participates in the State Department-led
Around the same time, a domestic Islamist insurgency,
Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) and
Ansarul Islam, emerged in northern Soum province along
the Africa Contingency Operations Training & Assistance
the Malian border. The group, whose founder was
(ACOTA) program, which prepares African troops to
reportedly mentored by a key jihadist figure in central Mali,
deploy as peacekeepers. (Burkina Faso is the largest troop
has largely targeted local state actors, schools, and
contributor to the U.N. peacekeeping operation in Mali.)
individuals seen as collaborating with the security forces. In
The Defense Department has also provided assistance to
February 2018, the Trump Administration designated
Burkinabè forces under its global train-and-equip authority.
Ansarul Islam for sanctions under Executive Order 13224.
Since 2017, the Trump Administration has pledged at least
The January 2016 Ouagadougou attack was one in a series
$30 million to support Burkina Faso’s participation in a
“joint force” launched by the G5 Sahel—
of three large attacks in West African cities between late
Burkina Faso,
2015 and early 2016 that signaled greater fusion between
Mali, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad—to counter cross-
AQIM and its Sahel-based offshoots. In early 2017,
border security threats.
AQIM’s Sahel “emirate,” Al Murabitoun, and two Malian-
Alexis Arieff, Specialist in African Affairs
led jihadist groups announced they were forming a new
coalition known as the Group for Supporting Islam and
IF10434
Muslims (JNIM, after its transliterated Arabic name). In

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Burkina Faso: In Focus



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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10434 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED

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