Burkina Faso has demonstrated notable economic resilience despite ongoing security and humanitarian challenges, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday, highlighting the country’s efforts to sustain growth, stabilize public finances, and expand opportunities for its citizens.
Kenji Okumura, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, made the remarks at the conclusion of his visit to Ouagadougou, where he met with President Ibrahim Traoré, Minister of Economy and Finance Aboubakar Nacanabo, the BCEAO’s National Director Armand Badiel, WAEMU Commission President Abdoulaye Diop, and other senior officials.
“I am delighted to be in Burkina Faso,” Okumura said, expressing appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the government and regional authorities during his stay. He noted that the visit provided a valuable opportunity to review the country’s economic performance and reform priorities.
Okumura praised Burkina Faso’s economic management, pointing to sound policies and a rapid expansion of exports as key drivers of growth. “These measures have helped place public debt on a sustainable path while keeping inflation under control,” he said, noting that the country’s economic stability is particularly significant given the prevailing security and humanitarian pressures.
The IMF official highlighted the need for continued macroeconomic discipline and structural reforms to secure long-term growth and prosperity. He emphasized that strengthening fiscal management, including improved domestic revenue mobilization, would create fiscal space to protect social spending and reduce vulnerability to external shocks, particularly fluctuations in gold and oil prices.
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Okumura also underscored the importance of measures to revive the private sector, describing them as critical for laying the foundation for broad-based and sustainable growth. He welcomed the government’s ambitious reform agenda, which focuses on improving fiscal governance, expanding critical infrastructure, and promoting economic diversification. The IMF official stressed that enhancing the efficiency of public investment, fostering innovation, and advancing digitalization would be key to supporting growth in the medium term.
During discussions, Okumura also focused on human capital development, highlighting policies to improve education, health, and skills training as essential to reducing external vulnerabilities and boosting resilience. He noted that successful implementation of these initiatives would be crucial to translating reforms into tangible benefits for the population.
The IMF deputy chief reaffirmed the institution’s support for Burkina Faso, stressing that continued collaboration would be vital in advancing economic stability and development objectives. “We look forward to continuing our productive partnership in the years ahead,” he said, signaling the IMF’s commitment to helping the country navigate economic challenges while promoting sustainable growth.
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Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation, has faced a complex mix of security threats, humanitarian needs, and economic pressures in recent years. Despite these obstacles, the country has made strides in managing public finances, expanding its export base, and maintaining inflation at manageable levels.
Analysts say the IMF’s engagement underscores the importance of regional and international support for Burkina Faso’s reform agenda, particularly in areas of fiscal discipline, infrastructure development, private sector revitalization, and human capital investment.
Okumura’s visit also included consultations with regional financial institutions and development partners, aimed at reinforcing policy coordination and supporting initiatives that strengthen the country’s resilience.
With a combination of sound economic policies, ambitious reforms, and international support, Burkina Faso is positioned to pursue a path of sustained growth, fiscal stability, and improved living standards for its citizens, the IMF official concluded.
