Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo delivered a state of the nation address to the Transitional Legislative Assembly on Friday in which he said over 200 localities in Burkina Faso have been wrested from insurgents.
PM Ouedraogo announced that throughout 2024, his government’s efforts focused on priorities outlined in the 2023-2025 Stabilisation and Development Action Plan. These included combating terrorism and restoring the country’s territorial integrity, addressing the humanitarian crisis effectively, achieving food sovereignty, promoting good governance and fighting corruption, improving living conditions, and enhancing Burkina Faso’s international standing.
In the fight against terrorism and territorial recovery, new rapid intervention units (BIR) were established and operationalized within the army, with over 14,000 soldiers and thousands of Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) recruited, trained, and equipped, the PM stated.
On securing the territory, numerous security infrastructures were built or rehabilitated, and the territorial jurisdictions of the Police and Gendarmerie were redefined to better meet the population’s security needs.
“To date, more than 71% of the territory has been liberated, enabling the resumption of several public services, the reopening of 15 administrative district offices, and the resettlement of 212 villages. This momentum continues, with other areas currently being consolidated ahead of further resettlements,” declared Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, nearly two million vulnerable people received food aid, and 108,000 households were provided with essential household items. Emergency housing and shelter support was also extended to 23,000 displaced individuals and over 45,000 vulnerable households.
The prime minister highlighted ongoing initiatives to promote economic empowerment for youth and women. “The implementation of these measures, combined with the dynamic of territorial reconquest and security, has facilitated the gradual resettlement of over 1,014,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in nearly 700 localities to date,” he added.
Regarding food sovereignty, actions under the agropastoral and fisheries offensive increased and rehabilitated agricultural developments, expanded the supply of subsidised fertilizers, improved seeds, and farming equipment for producers. In the past agricultural season, cereal production reached over 6 million tons, up from 5 million tons the previous season. On the livestock front, more than 36 million poultry, cattle, and goats were vaccinated against common diseases.
In terms of good governance and anti-corruption efforts, the government expanded access to justice by reopening courts, providing legal assistance to nearly 1,700 indigent individuals, and conducting “empty docket” operations at the Ouaga I and Bobo-Dioulasso high courts.
“The fight against fraud, forgery, and corruption is one of the vigorous actions led by the government,” the PM stressed. Intensified controls and crackdowns on fraud, forgery, and illicit trade practices resulted in the seizure of 160 tons of banned medicines, 6,200 tons of narcotics, and over 56 kilograms of gold.
“These controls also led to the seizure of security equipment, weapons, ammunition, and explosives, valued at over 5 billion FCFA,” Ouedraogo specified.
He emphasised that anti-corruption efforts boosted the tax revenue-to-GDP ratio from 17.8% in 2023 to 19.3% in 2024, marking the highest rate in the WAEMU region. “By December 2024, the country recorded a growth rate of 5.1%, up from 3.6% at the end of 2023. The government will ensure the benefits of this growth reach the most disadvantaged through a social program driven by presidential initiatives,” he affirmed.
On the mining sector, he noted the state’s increased involvement through the establishment of the Méguet shared gold processing unit, the Burkina Faso Mining Participation Company (SOPAMIB), and Golden Hand SA for mining waste processing.
Prime Minister Ouedraogo hailed Burkina Faso’s “unapologetic diplomacy,” which continues to diversify partnerships, evidenced by high-level reciprocal visits with new partners such as Russia, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, China, and Nicaragua.
HO/ac/lb/as/APA