Burkina Faso

Compiled from the December 2007 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:

Burkina Faso

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 274,200 sq. km. (106,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Colorado.

Cities: Capital—Ouagadougou (pop. 1 million). Other cities—Bobo-Diou-lasso (410,000), Koudougou (83,000).

Terrain: Savanna; brushy plains and scattered hills.

Climate: Sahelian; pronounced wet and dry seasons.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective-Burkinabe (accent on last e).

Population: (2005) 13.9 million.

Annual growth rate: (2005) 2.53%.

Ethnic groups: 63 ethnic groups among which are Mossi (almost half of the total population), Bobo, Mande, Lobi, Fulani, Gourounsi, and Senufo.

Religions: Traditional beliefs 20%, Muslim 55%, Christian 25%.

Languages: French (official), Moore, Dioula, others.

Education: Literacy (2003)—26.6%.

Health: Infant mortality rate (2005)—95.57/1,000. Life expectancy (2003)—48.45 years.

Work force: Agriculture—90%; industry—2.1%; commerce, services, and government—5.5%.

Government

Type: Republic.

Independence: August 5, 1960.

Constitution: June 11, 1991.

Government branches: Executive—president (head of state) prime minister (head of government). Legislative—one chamber. Judiciary—independent.

Political subdivisions: 13 regions, 45 provinces, 350 departments.

Political parties: Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), Alliance for Democracy Federation/ African Democratic Assembly (ADF/ RDA), Party for Democracy and Progress/Socialist Party (PDP/PS), National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD), and numerous other small opposition parties.

Suffrage: Direct universal.

Budget: (2004) $540 million.

Defense: 5.5% of government budget.

Economy

GDP: (2005) $5.6 billion.

Annual growth rate: (2005) 5.6%.

Per capita income: (2005) $424.

Avg. inflation rate: (2005) 6.5%.

Natural resources: (limited quantities) Manganese, gold, limestone, marble, phosphate.

Agriculture: (37% of GDP) Products—cotton, millet, sorghum, rice, livestock, peanuts, shea nuts, maize.

Industry: (19% of GDP) Type—mining, agricultural processing plants, brewing and bottling, light industry.

Trade: (2004) Exports—$439 million: cotton, gold, livestock, peanuts, shea nut products. Major markets—Singapore, China, Thailand, European Union, Asia. Imports—$843 million.

Exchange rate: Fixed to the euro. Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) francs 656=1 euro (2003: approx. CFA francs 579=U.S.$1; 2005: CFA francs 534=U.S.$1).

GEOGRAPHY

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the middle of West Africa's “hump.” It is geographically in the Sahel—the agricultural region between the Sahara Desert and the coastal rain forests. Most of central Burkina Faso lies on a savanna plateau, 200 meters-300 meters (650 ft.-1,000 ft.) above sea level, with fields, brush, and scattered trees. The largest river is the Mouhoun (Black Volta), which is partially navigable by small craft. Burkina Faso has West Africa's largest elephant population. Game preserves also are home to lions, hippos, monkeys, warthogs, and antelope. Infrastructure and tourism are, however, not well developed. Annual average rainfall varies from about 100 centimeters (40 in.) in the south to less than 25 centimeters (10 in.) in the north and northeast, where hot desert winds accentuate the dryness of the region. The cooler season, November to February, is pleasantly warm and dry (but dusty), with cool evenings. March-June can be very hot. In July-September, the rains bring a 3-month cooler and greener humid season.

PEOPLE

Burkina Faso’ 13.9 million people belong to two major West African cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande (whose common language is Dioula). The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana and established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is still led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso is an ethnically integrated, secular state. Most of Burkina's people are concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer (125/sq. mi.). This population density, high for Africa, causes migrations of hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, many for seasonal agricultural work. These flows of workers are obviously affected by external events; the September 2002 coup attempt in Cote d'Ivoire and the ensuing fighting there have meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe returned to Burkina Faso. A plurality of Burkinabe are Muslim, but most also adhere to traditional African religions. The introduction of Islam to Burkina Faso was initially resisted by the Mossi rulers. Christians, both Roman Catholics and Protestants, comprise about 25% of the population, with their largest concentration in urban areas.

Female genital mutilation, child labor, child trafficking, and social exclusion of accused sorcerers remain serious problems, although the government has taken steps in recent years to combat these phenomena. Workers and civil servants generally have the right to organize unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike for better pay and working conditions. Few Burkinabe have had formal education. Schooling is in theory free and compulsory until the age of 16, but only about 44% of Burkina's primary school-age children are enrolled in primary school due to actual costs of school supplies and school fees and to opportunity costs of sending a child who could earn money for the family to school. The University of Ouagadougou, founded in 1974, was the country's first institution of higher education. The Poly-technical University in Bobo-Dioulasso was opened in 1995.

HISTORY

Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Burkina Faso was dominated by the empire-building Mossi. The French arrived and claimed the area in 1896, but Mossi resistance ended only with the capture of their capital Ouagadougou in 1901. The colony of Upper Volta was established in 1919, but it was dismembered and reconstituted several times until the present borders were recognized in 1947.

The French administered the area indirectly through Mossi authorities until independence was achieved on August 5, 1960. The first President, Maurice Yameogo, amended the constitution soon after taking office to ban opposition political parties. His government lasted until 1966, when the first of several military coups placed Lt. Col. Sangoule Lamizana at the head of a government of senior army officers. Lamizana remained in power throughout the 1970s, as President of military and then elected governments.

With the support of unions and civil groups, Col. Saye Zerbo overthrew President Lamizana in 1980. Colonel Zerbo also encountered resistance from trade unions and was overthrown 2 years later by Maj. Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo and the Council of Popular Salvation (CSP). Factional infighting developed between moderates in the CSP and radicals led by Capt. Thomas San-kara, who was appointed Prime Minister in January 1983, but was subsequently arrested. Efforts to bring about his release, directed by Capt. Blaise Compaore, resulted in yet another military coup d’etat, led by Sankara and Compaore on August 4, 1983.

Sankara established the National Revolutionary Committee with himself as President and vowed to “mobilize the masses.” But the committee's membership remained secret and was dominated by Marxist-Leninist military officers. In 1984, Upper Volta changed its name to Burkina Faso, meaning “the country of honorable people.” But many of the strict security and austerity measures taken by Sankara provoked resistance. Despite his initial popularity and personal charisma, Sankara was assassinated in a coup which brought Capt. Blaise Compaore to power in October 1987.

Compaore pledged to pursue the goals of the revolution but to “rectify” Sankara's “deviations” from the original aims. In fact, Compaore reversed most of Sankara's policies and combined the leftist party he headed with more centrist parties after the 1989 arrest and execution of two colonels who had supported Compaore and governed with him up to that point.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

With Compaore alone at the helm, a democratic constitution was approved by referendum in 1991. In December 1991, Compaore was elected President, running unopposed after the opposition boycotted the election. The opposition did participate in the following year's legislative elections, in which the ruling party won a majority of seats.

The government of the Fourth Republic includes a strong presidency, a prime minister, a Council of Ministers presided over by the president, a unicameral National Assembly, and the judiciary. The legislature and judiciary are nominally independent but remain susceptible to executive influence.

Burkina held multiparty municipal elections in 1995 and 2000 and legislative elections in 1997 and 2002. Balloting was considered largely free and fair in all elections. The Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP), the governing party, won overwhelming majorities in all the elections until the 2002 legislative election, where the CDP won with a small majority of the 111 seats. The opposition made large gains in the 2002 elections. Elections were held again in May 2007.

Compaore won the November 1998 presidential election for a second 7-year term against two minor-party candidates. But within weeks of Compaore's victory the domestic opposition took to the streets to protest the December 13, 1998 murder of leading independent journalist Norbert Zongo, whose investigations of the death of the President's brother's chauffeur suggested involvement of the Compaore family.

The opposition Collective Against Impunity—led by human rights activist Halidou Ouedraogo and including opposition political parties of Prof. Joseph Ki-Zerbo and (for a while) Hermann Yameogo, son of the first President—challenged Compaore and his government to bring Zongo's murderers to justice and make political reforms. The Zongo killings still resonate in Burkina politics, though not as strongly as in the past. There has been no significant progress on the investigation of the case.

Compaore was re-elected to the presidency for a 5-year term in November 2005. The current cabinet is dominated by Compaore and the CDP. Given the fragile roots of democratic institutions, constitutional checks and balances are seldom effective in practice. The constitution was amended in 2000 to limit the president to a 5-year term, renewable once, beginning with the November 2005 election. The amendment is controversial because it did not make any mention of retroactivity, meaning that President Compaore's eligibility to present himself for the 2005 presidential election is a matter of debate. The Constitutional Court ruled in October 2005 that the amendment was not retroactive, and Compaore went on to win the November 2005 presidential election with over 80% of the vote. International and national electoral observers mostly believed that the election was fair.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 2/1/2008

Pres.: Blaise COMPAORE

Prime Min.: Tertius ZONGO

Min. in Charge of Presidential Missions,Analysis, & Prospective: GuedaOUEDRAGO

Min. of Agriculture, Water, & Fisheries: Salif DIALL

Min. of Animal Resources: Sekou BA

Min. of Arts, Culture, & Tourism: Mahamoudou OUEDRAGO

Min. of Basic Education & Literacy: Marie Odile BONKOUNGOU-BALIMA

Min. of Civil Service & State Reform: Seydou BOUDA

Min. of Culture, Tourism, & Communication: Filippe SAWADOGO

Min. of Defense: Yero BOLY

Min. of Economy & Finance: Jean Baptiste Marie Pascal COMPAORE

Min. of Employment & Youth: Justin KOUTABA

Min. of Environment & Standard of Living: Laurent SEDEGO

Min. of Foreign Affairs & Regional Cooperation: Djibrill Yipene BASSOLE

Min. of Health: Bedouma Alain YODA

Min. of Housing & Urbanization: Vincent DABILOUGOU

Min. of Human Rights Promotion: Salamata SAWADOGO-TAPSOBA

Min. of Infrastructure & Improvement of Landlocked Situation: Hippolyte LINGANI

Min. of Justice & Keeper of the Seal: Zakalia KOTE

Min. of Labor & Social Security: Jerome BOUGOUMA

Min. of Mines & Energy: Abdoulaye Abdoulkader CISSE

Min. of Parliamentary Relations: Salif SAWADOGO

Min. of Post & Telecommunications: Joachim TANKOANO

Min. of Secondary & Higher Education & Scientific Research: Joseph PARE

Min. of Security: Assane SAWADOGO

Min. of Social Action & National Solidarity: Pascaline TAMINI-BIHOUN

Min. of Sports & Leisure: Jean Pierre A.M. PALM

Min. of Territorial Admin. & Decentralization: Clement SAWADOGO

Min. of Trade, Promotion of Enterprise & Handicraft: Mamadou SANOU

Min. of Transportation: Gilbert NoelOUEDRAOGO

Min. of Women's Affairs: Celine M.YODA-KONKOBO

Dep. Min. in Charge of Agriculture: Issaka MAIGA

Dep. Min. in Charge of Budget: Lucien Marie Noel BEMBAMBA

Dep. Min. in Charge of Local Collectives: Soungalo OUTTAKA

Dep. Min. in Charge of Mass Literacy & Nonformal Education: Oussemi TAMBOURA

Dep. Min. in Charge of Regional Cooperation: Minata SAMATE-CESSOUMA

Dep. Min. in Charge of Technical Education & Vocational Training: Maxime SOME

Ambassador to the US: Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Michel KAFANDO

Burkina Faso maintains an embassy in the United States at 2340 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-5577).

ECONOMY

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $424. More than 80% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, with only a small fraction directly involved in industry and services. Drought, poor soil, lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure, a low literacy rate, and an economy vulnerable to external shocks are all longstanding problems. The export economy also remains subject to fluctuations in world prices.

Burkina remains committed to the structural adjustment program it launched in 1991, and it has been one of the first beneficiaries of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt-relief and poverty reduction programs for highly indebted poor countries. At least 20% of the government budget is financed from international aid, and the majority of infrastructure investments are externally financed. Growth rates had been more than 5% from the late 1990s through 2003.

Many Burkinabe migrate to neighboring countries for work, and their remittances provide a contribution to the economy's balance of payments that is second only to cotton as a source of foreign exchange earnings. Political and economic problems in Cote d'Ivoire have had a direct impact on this source of revenue for millions of Burkina households. The military crisis in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire negatively affected trade between the two countries, due to the year-long closure of the border between Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire from September 2002 to September 2003. Goods and services, as well as remittances, continue to flow from Burkinabe living in Cote d’Ivo-ire, but they have been rerouted through other countries in the region, such as Togo, Ghana, and Benin. Commercial and personal traffic across the border is slowly rebuilding steam.

Burkina is attempting to improve the economy by developing its mineral resources, improving its infrastructure, making its agricultural and livestock sectors more productive and competitive, and stabilizing the supplies and prices of food grains. Staple crops are millet, sorghum, maize, and rice. The cash crops are cotton, groundnuts, karite (shea nuts), and sesame. Livestock, once a major export, has declined.

Manufacturing is limited to cotton and food processing (mainly in Bobo-Dioulasso) and import substitution heavily protected by tariffs. Some factories are privately owned, and others are set to be privatized. Burkina's exploitable natural resources are limited, although deposits of manganese, zinc, and gold have attracted the interest of international mining firms. A railway connects Burkina with the port of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivo-ire, 1,150 kilometers (712 mi.) away. Due to the closure of the border with Cote d'Ivoire, this railway was not operational between September 2002 and September 2003, but cargo and limited passenger service are now offered. Primary roads between main towns in Burkina Faso are paved. Domestic air service and flights within Africa are limited. Phones and Internet service providers are relatively reliable, but the cost of utilities is very high.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Burkina has excellent relations with European aid donors, as well as Libya, Taiwan, and other states which have offered financial aid. France and the European Union, in particular, provide significant aid. Other donors with large bilateral aid programs include Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada. President Compaore is active in subregional diplomacy in West Africa. He was elected in January 2007 to be Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and has acted as a mediator in the political crises in neighboring Togo and Cote d'Ivoire.

U.S.-BURKINA RELATIONS

U.S. relations with Burkina Faso are good but subject to strains in the past because of the Compaore government's past involvement in arms trading and other sanctions-breaking activity. In addition to regional peace and stability, U.S. interests in Burkina are to promote continued democratization and greater respect for human rights and to encourage sustainable economic development. Although the Agency for International Development (USAID) closed its office in Ouagadougou in 1995, about $18 million annually of USAID funding goes to Burkina's development through non-governmental and regional organizations. The largest is a Food for Peace school lunch program administered by Catholic Relief Services. Burkina has been the site of several development success stories. U.S. leadership in building food security in the Sahel after the 1968-74 drought has been successful in virtually eliminating famine, despite recurrent drought years. River blindness has been eliminated from the region. In both cases, the U.S. was the main donor to inter-African organizations headquartered in Ouagadougou which through sustained efforts have achieved and consolidated these gains.

In 2005, Burkina Faso and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $12 million Threshold Country Program to build schools and increase girls’ enrolment rates. In November 2005, the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Burkina Faso as eligible to submit a proposal for Millennium Challenge Account assistance for fiscal year 2006, making it one of only two countries eligible for threshold as well as compact funding. The Government of Burkina Faso is working closely with MCC staff to finalize its compact submission.

The Peace Corps entered Burkina Faso in 1966. The Peace Corps program was phased out in 1987, but was invited to return to Burkina Faso in 1995 as part of a newly established health project. One year later, the Peace Corps established a secondary education project and in 2003, Peace Corps introduced a small enterprise development project to complement the government's poverty reduction and private sector promotional programs. In 2005, the Government of Burkina Faso asked for assistance to increase the level of girls’ access to education, which later became the focus of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Compact with Burkina Faso. All Peace Corps Volunteers, regardless of sector, are trained in how to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS and gender and development.

U.S. trade with Burkina is still extremely limited—$220 million in U.S. exports and $600,000 in Burkin-abe exports to the U.S. in 2004—but investment possibilities exist, especially in the mining and communications sectors.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Last Updated: 2/19/2008

OUAGADOUGOU (E) 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, 01 B.P. 35, (226) 5030-6723; 5031-2660 (after hours), Fax (226) 5030-3890, Workweek: M-Th 07:30-17:00, F 07:30–12:30, Website: M-Th 07:30-17:00, F 07:30–12:30, Website: http://ouagadougou.usembassy.gov.

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

October 12, 2007

Country Description: Burkina Faso, previously known as Upper Volta, is a landlocked, developing country in the Sahel region of West Africa. Its capital is Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso is a former French colony; the official language is French. It is one of the world's poorest countries, and tourism infrastructure is limited.

Entry Requirements: A valid passport, visa, evidence of yellow-fever vaccination are required for entry into the country. Visas valid for seven days are available at land borders and for 21 days at the airport; however, both can be converted into visas of up to five years validity at the Direction du Controle des Migrations, a government office in central Ouagadougou. U.S. travelers should obtain longer-validity visas from the Embassy of Burkina Faso, 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 332-5577. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Burkinabe embassy or consulate.

Visit the Embassy of Burkina Faso web site www.burkinaembassy-usa.org/ for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security: Ouagadougou occasionally experiences demonstrations and civil unrest. U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Burkina Faso are urged to exercise caution and maintain a high level of security awareness at all times. Although most demonstrations are generally peaceful, there have been several incidents of violence and destruction within recent years. U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political gatherings, and street demonstrations, even if they appear to be peaceful. There have been no known terrorist incidents (bombings, hijackings or kidnappings) directed against foreigners in Burkina Faso.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.

Crime: Street crime in Burkina Faso poses high risks for visitors. Most reported incidents involve purse-snatchers and street scam artists, who target wallets, jewelry, cell phones and other valuables. Thieves are especially active during international meetings or events, which draw large crowds to the capital. The areas near and around the U.N. Circle, Avenue Kwame N’Krumah, and the former Central Market in Ouagadougou experience the highest incidence of purse snatchings and muggings. Travelers should stay alert, remain in groups, and avoid poorly lit areas. Be especially cautious at night, when most reported incidents have taken place.

There continue to be frequent armed robberies and attacks on intercity roads throughout the country. Although these armed individuals and groups operate mostly at night, there have been daytime attacks. They have injured and/or killed individuals who refused their demands or attempted to drive through their roadblocks. Several attacks have been directed at intercity public buses. U.S. travelers should avoid all intercity travel at night. Check with the U.S. Embassy for the latest security information before setting out on your journey.

Perpetrators of business fraud often target foreigners. Recent scams that have victimized U.S. citizens have taken many forms, including fraudulent transactions for gold and antiquities. Typically these scams begin with an unsolicited communication (usually by e-mail) from an unknown person who describes a situation that promises quick financial gain, often involving the transfer of a large sum of money or valuables out of the country. A series of “advance fees” must be paid to conclude the transaction, such as fees to provide legal documents or to pay certain taxes. In fact, the final payoff does not exist; the purpose of the scam is simply to collect the advance fees. One common variation involves individuals claiming to be refugees or other victims of western African conflicts who contact U.S. citizens to request help in transferring large sums of money out of Burkina Faso. Another typical ploy involves persons claiming to be related to present or former political leaders who need assistance to transfer large sums of cash.

While such fraud schemes in the past have been associated with Nigeria, they are now prevalent throughout West Africa. The scams pose a danger of both financial loss and physical harm. You should carefully check and research any business proposal originating in Burkina Faso or elsewhere before you commit any funds, provide any goods or services, or undertake any travel. For additional information on scams, see the Department of State's publication, International Financial Scams.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical facilities and emergency hospital care are very limited, particularly in areas outside the capital, Ouagadougou. Some medicines are, however, available through local pharmacies. Travelers requiring medicines should bring an adequate supply for the duration of their stay in Burkina Faso.

Malaria is a serious risk to travelers in Burkina Faso. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what anti-malarial drugs they have been taking. For additional information on malaria, including protective measures, see the CDC travelers’ health web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel.

Meningitis is endemic in Burkina Faso, and cases are most frequent during the drier, dustier months of January through June. Travelers should confirm that their meningitis A, C, Y, W, 135 inoculations are up to date.

There have been several confirmed cases of avian influenza (H5N1) in Burkina Faso over the last year, although in each case the disease was confined to birds, and was contained. A new outbreak could occur at any time. Travelers should avoid poultry farms and markets, avoid contact with visibly sick or dead birds and any raw poultry, and ensure poultry products are thoroughly cooked prior to consumption. For further information on avian influenza, consult the U.S. Department of State's Avian Influenza Fact Sheet, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site at http://www.cdc.gov. World Health Organization (WHO) guidance related to avian influenza is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's website at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The informmation below concerning Burkina Faso is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Public transportation is not safe. While urban road conditions are fair, rural roads are in poor condition and roadside assistance is not available. Travelers should exercise great caution when traveling by land in Burkina Faso. All but a few roads are unpaved, narrow, and full of potholes. Livestock and children often dart onto the road without warning. Road travel at night is especially dangerous and, if at all possible, should be avoided. At night, there is a high volume of truck traffic passing through the country and pedestrians, bicycles, and carts pose a major hazard on unlit, unmarked roads. Vehicles are often dangerously overloaded and poorly maintained. Drivers, including motorcyclists and bicyclists, are often careless. The police rarely enforce traffic laws and are virtually absent on non-urban roads. Emergency services are unreliable and overtaxed.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Burkina Faso, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Burkina Faso's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's Internet web site at www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: Burkina Faso's customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning export from Burkina Faso of items such as masks, religious materials, and antiquities. The Director of the National Museum has stated that all exportation of objects of art (old or traditional artists’ works, and all old material of the national cultural patrimony) is subject to the prior approval of the Ministry of Culture.

Foreigners should always carry an identity document, such as a passport or U.S. driver'slicense.

Credit cards are accepted at only a few high-end establishments in Ouagadougou. Travelers’ checks may be cashed at local banks, but euro-denominated traveler's checks are much more widely accepted than dollar-denominated ones. There are a few ATMs in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, but they do not always accept cards from foreign banks. ATMs generally accept Visa credit cards with a personal identification number.

Burkina Faso's laws concerning photography have recently changed. Photo permits from the Tourist Office are no longer required for tourists. Film crews still do require permits. Note that the Tourist Office publishes a list of buildings, installations, and areas that may not be photographed at all. Contact the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou for more details regarding taking photographs in Burkina Faso.

Local telephone service is adequate but expensive. Cell phone networks are available in most urban areas. However, telephone coverage in rural areas is limited. International calls cannot always be made from hotels; it is often necessary to make international calls from a Post and Telecommunications Office, where only local currency is accepted. Collect calls are not possible. Cyber-cafes for Internet access are common in both Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Burkina Faso laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Burkina Faso are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Registration and Embassy Locations: Americans living or traveling in Burkina Faso are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Burkina Faso. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenue Raoul Follereau. The Consular entrance is located on Avenue John F. Kennedy; consular telephone 50-30-67-23; consular fax: 50-30-77-75. The Embassy hours of operation are Monday to Thursday from 07:30 to 12:00 and 12:45 to 17:00; Friday 07:30 to 12:30. The Embassy's website address is: http://burkinafaso.usembassy.gov. The Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Burkinabe holidays.

International Adoption

June 2006

The information in this section has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel. Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services.

Please Note: This flyer is intended for American citizens living in Burkina Faso who are qualified to adopt locally. Because the United States has not yet ratified the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention, the adoption authorities in Burkina Faso have said that adoption by U.S. citizens not resident in Burkina Faso is not possible at this time.

Patterns of Immigration: One Burkinabe orphan has received a U.S. immigrant visa in the past five fiscal years (in January of 2006).

Adoption Authority: The office in charge of Infant and Adolescent Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and National Solidarity (La Direction de la Protection de l’Enfant et de L’Adolescent, Ministére de l’Action Sociale et de la Solidarité Nationale) receives and examines all adoption applications and identifies children to be adopted.

Ministère de l’Action Sociale et de la Solidarité Nationale

La Direction de la Protection de l’Enfant et de L’Adolescent

(Ministry of Social Affairs and National Solidarity, Infant and Adolescent Welfare)

Immeuble Baoghin, Secteur 10 01 BP 515, Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso

Telephone: (226) 50 31 69 03 (Direct line)

(226) 50 30 68 80 (Switchboard) Fax: (226) 50 31 67 37

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents: Married, cohabiting couples who have been married for at least five years may adopt a child. Single applicants are almost never permitted to adopt children in Burkina Faso. Married prospective adoptive parents without children of their own are given priority. Each prospective adoptive parent must be at least 15 years older than the prospective adoptee, unless the prospective adoptee is the biological child of one of the spouses, in which case the age difference between the child and the other spouse must be at least 10 years.

The authorities must be convinced that an adoption will not generate a material profit for anyone involved in the adoption (except service providers such as lawyers).

Eligibility Requirements For Adoptive Children: In Burkina Faso, children identified for adoption are mostly from one of the following categories: orphans whose parents are unknown or have died, children with mentally ill mothers, abandoned children, and children who were born of incestuous or adulterous relationships. Under local law, children can be adopted at any time up to age 18. If the adoptive child is aged 15 or above, however, he/she must give his/her personal consent before the adoption can take place. Important Note: U.S. citizens considering adopting a Burkinabe child aged 16 or older should contact the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou prior to initiating the adoption process, as U.S. law requires a child to be under the age of sixteen to qualify for a U.S. immigrant visa.

Residency Requirements: Foreigners who have resided in Burkina Faso for at least two years are eligible to apply to adopt locally.

Time Frame: It takes about six months from the time the prospective parents submit their initial application until the child is identified and given over to the prospective adoptive parents’ custody, and six months or more for the case to be finalized. Finalization includes the final adoption decree, the issuance of child's new birth certificate, the issuance of the “Certificat de Conformité” (described below) and the authorization for the child to leave the country.

Generally, the child is placed in the adoptive parents’ care as soon as s/he is identified, and lives with them until the final court hearing. The court hearing is usually just a formality, as the government Social Service Agency (known as “Action Sociale”) has already vetted the parents.

Adoption cases may take longer when not properly followed up with the court. The Infant and Adolescent Welfare office suggests that adoptive parents hire a lawyer, especially when cases fall under the jurisdiction of the civil court in Ouagadougou. The Infant and Adolescent Welfare office maintains a list of local lawyers who can be consulted. In small cities, prospective adoptive parents might not need to hire a lawyer.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: The Ministry of Social Affairs, and specifically its Infant and Adolescent Welfare office, provides adoption services in Burkina Faso. As stated above, adoptive parents may find it helpful to hire an attorney suggested by the aforementioned office to assist them with the adoption process. The U.S. Embassy also has a list of attorneys, which is available on our website at http://ouagadougou.usembassy.gov.

Adoption Fees: The social services agency requires a $40 fee to conduct the home study. In addition, when an adoptive family is informed that a child has been identified, and if they choose not to live with the child during the legal process, they are required to pay for care for the child during this interim period. These fees typically range between $60 and $120, depending on the child's needs. Most families opt to have the child live with them during this period. There are no other adoption fees paid directly to the government.

Adoption Procedures: Burkinabe law does not permit prospective adoptive parents to find and select a specific child they would like to adopt. Social Service Agencies throughout Burkina Faso are authorized to conduct social and psychological studies on children to certify that they are eligible for adoption. Lists of these children are forwarded to the office of Infant and Adolescent Welfare.

Prospective adoptive parents should understand that there are two kinds of adoption available in Burkina Faso, and for U.S. immigration purposes, the “full” adoption option is the only one that can confer immigrant status to an adopted child. An “open” adoption—one which gives a biological parent the right to revoke the adoption at any time—does not meet the requirements established by U.S. immigration law for issuing visas to adopted orphans.

Prospective adoptive parents should apply directly to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Infant and Adolescent Welfare office. They are evaluated with respect to the following factors:

1. The family's ability to financially support the child;
2. The family's way of life;
3. The findings of a social and psychological report on the prospective adoptive parents;
4. The family's motivations and their attitude towards adoption;
5. The age and state of health of the adoptive parents;
6. The welfare of children already members of the adoptive family;
7. The size of the family (applications from families with more than two children may not be given priority).

The first step after the submission of the application is the home study report completed by the office of Infant and Adolescent Welfare in Ouagadougou. The local Social Service Agency of the adoptive parents’ place of residence is also involved in the report. When the report is concluded, the Infant and Adolescent Welfare office selects a child appropriate for the family and then writes to the prospective adoptive parents to inform them that a child has been identified.

After receiving information about the child, the adoptive parents must write back to confirm that they still want to go ahead with the adoption and that they agree on the choice of the child, or, alternatively, that they do not agree with the choice of the child. After the parents have confirmed that they wish to go ahead with the adoption, the child is placed with the adoptive parents’ care.

The Office of Infant and Adolescent Welfare then directs the adoptive parents to a notary's office in order to draw up and sign an adoption contract. This document serves as the legal basis for the parents’ temporary custody of the child. All parties involved in this contract—the prospective adoptive parents, the orphanage (if applicable), the legal guardian of the child (if applicable) or the birth parent (if applicable)—have a three-month window during which the grant of custody can be annulled by the notary if a party so requests. After three months, the contract can no longer be annulled.

The Infant and Adolescent Welfare office will automatically forward the adoption file to court, which schedules a hearing to finalize the adoption through the issuance of an adoption decree.

Next, all the parties who signed the contract and, if applicable, a Social Service representative are interviewed and heard in judges’ chambers. Where one biological parent is still alive or when there is a legal representative of the child, he/she must reaffirm his/her consent to the adoption. When the judge issues the adoption decree after this hearing, the adoptive parents or their legal representatives send a copy to the Ministry of Social Affairs.

It is used to create two further vital documents: the “Certificat de Conformité,” which states that normal adoption procedures have been respected and an authorization for the child to leave the country with the adoptive parents.

Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Required Documents: Applications to adopt must include the following documents. Only certified copies of these documents are acceptable to the Burkinabe authorities.

1. A marriage certificate for the couple;
2. A copy of the family book (official record of spouse, children) when/if available;
3. A residence permit/certificate;
4. Proof of income;
5. Medical documents certifying that both prospective adoptive parents are physically and psychologically healthy;
6. Police certificates for both prospective parents;
7. Copies of the first two pages of both prospective parents’ passports;

Two motivation letters stamped with 200 fcfa revenue stamps (available at the local mayor's office), one addressed to the Chief Judge of the court in Ouagadougou and the other to the Ministry of Social Affairs, explaining in detail the motivation for adopting, and specifying the profile of the child they would like to adopt.

Embassy of Burkina Faso
2340 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: (202) 332-5577/6895
Fax: (202) 667-1882
Email: [email protected]

U.S. Immigration Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

U.S. Embassy
Avenue John F. Kennedy
Secteur 6, Koulouba
01 BP 35, Ouagadougou 01 Telephone: (226) 50-30-67-23
Fax: (226) 50-30-77-75
Email: [email protected]

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.