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Sub Saharan Africa

Burkina Faso

 Flag of Burkina Faso

Last reviewed: 25 February 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Burkina Faso hosts the headquarters of UEMOA (the eight francophone member Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa), and of CILSS (The Interstate Committee for Drought in the Sahel). Burkina Faso has strong links with Libya. There is evidence that Burkina Faso was involved in supporting the RUF rebellion in Sierra Leone (according to Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation Report) and in supplying arms to Charles Taylor in Liberia in contravention of UN sanctions (as documented in various UN reports).

Since 2000, Burkina Faso has been preoccupied with the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. Relations between the 2 countries have been troubled amidst claims that Compaore has supported the rebels. However, more recently President Compaore acted as mediator in talks between Ivorian President Gbagbo and rebel leader Guillaume Soro, which resulted in the Ouagadougou Accords of March 2007. These accords were followed up with an agreement in November 2007 to move the process forward, again signed under the sponsorship of President Compaore.

Up to 2 million Burkinabe nationals have traditionally worked seasonally or have taken up residence in Cote d'Ivoire. Since 2002, a very large number have left Cote d'Ivoire, adding to high unemployment in Burkina Faso. The loss of remittances has had devastating effect on rural areas.

In the international arena, France remains the country's chief ally, aid provider and trading partner.

Burkina Faso's Relations with the UK

UK interests in Burkina Faso are minimal. There is no bilateral assistance programme. British assistance reaches Burkina Faso though multilateral channels, mainly the EU.

British commercial interests are small. Trade flows are modest – in 2006, UK exports in goods to that country amounted to £2.7m down from £4.2m the previous year; while UK imports from Burkina were valued at £0.55m, an almost identical value to the previous year.

Diplomatic Representation

UK has a Political Counsellor based in Abidjan who provides reporting on Burkina Faso for the  British High Commission in Accra.

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Contacts

Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, British Honorary Consulate

Address:

Mr Patrick de La lande
Honorary Consulate of UK in Burkina Faso
01 BP 6490 Ouagadougou 01 BURKINA FASO

Based at ICI, Initiatives Conseil International
Impasse Thévenoud, 330
Secteur 01 of Ouagadougou

Telephone:

(226) 50 30 88 60

Fax:

(226) 50 31 25 43

Email: consulat-uk@fasonet.bf

Office hours:

 

Burkina Faso