Burkina Faso–United States 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' enrollment 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 Burkinabe exports to the U.S. in 2004--but investment possibilities exist, especially in the mining and communications sectors.

Principal U.S. Officials

* Ambassador--Jeanine Jackson
* Deputy Chief of Mission--David E. Brown
* Political Officer--Breanna Green
* Economic Officer--Pamela Hamblett
* Management Officer--Eugene Aaron
* Peace Corps Country Director--Marilyn Knieriemen
* Public Affairs Officer--Joann Lockard
* Vice Consul--Wossenyelesh Mazengia

Diplomatic missions

The U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso is located in Ouagadougou.

ee also

* Foreign relations of Burkina Faso
* Foreign relations of the United States

References

StateDept [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2834.htm]