Burkina Faso
Synthesis
major macro economic indicators
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (e) | 2023 (f) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP growth (%) | 1.9 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| Inflation (yearly average, %) | 1.9 | 3.9 | 14.6 | 3.0 |
| Budget balance (% GDP) | -5.7 | -6.0 | -6.1 | -6.0 |
| Current account balance (% GDP) | -0.1 | -3.0 | -6.0 | -4.5 |
| Public debt (% GDP) | 47.8 | 49.5 | 59.6 | 59.0 |
(e): Estimate (f): Forecast *Grants included
STRENGTHS
- Major producer of gold (sixth-largest in Africa) and cotton (third-largest in Africa in 2020)
- Member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which ensures the stability of the CFA franc against the euro
- Support from the international financial community (one of the first countries to benefit from the HIPC initiative)
WEAKNESSES
- Economy highly exposed to climatic hazards
- Vulnerability to changes in cotton and gold prices
- High dependence on external aid
- Weak electrical infrastructure
- Demographic pressure, very high poverty rate increased by massive population displacement, very low human development index and critical food insecurity
- Large informal sector and weak business environment
- Presence of armed Islamist groups (foreign and domestic), particularly in the north and east of the country
- Political instability: two coups in 2022
Risk assessment
The economic impact of political and security instability mitigates growth
The economy will enjoy higher growth than in 2022, driven in particular by an increase in gold and cotton exports. Gold production (which accounted for 78% of exports in 2021) is expected to increase, due to ongoing mining projects and the award of new licences by the government, in particular to the Russian company Norgold. Favourable weather conditions and lower fertiliser prices will support robustness of the agricultural sector. Finally, the services sector will continue its recovery, driven in particular by ICT and financial services. However, growth will remain moderated by the risks posed by political and security instability. Indeed, it will continue to affect private investment and FDI inflows. Moreover, despite an expected drop in the average price of oil, the latter will remain at a high level and will continue to weigh on imports. As a result, inflation, particularly for food and oil, will remain high. Further monetary tightening is therefore expected in 2023, helping to contain inflation but also investment.
Twin deficits still large
The budget deficit will still be large and above the WAEMU community norm (3% of GDP). Defence and security expenditure will remain very high. Indeed, due to the persistence of the terrorist threat and the coup d'état of September 2022, the 2023 budget forecast is mainly focused on strengthening security, notably by providing for the deployment of 3,000 additional soldiers on the territory and the purchase of new military equipment. As the security issue goes hand in hand with humanitarian issues, social expenditure to deal with it will remain very substantial. Finally, although inflation will decrease, its durably high level will lead to the maintenance of financial aid measures to households, farmers and businesses. The deficit will be financed by bilateral and multilateral loans, international grants and recourse to the regional bond market.
The current account will remain in deficit, but less so due to strong exports, which will continue to support the trade surplus. However, it will continue to suffer from the endurably high value of imports and profit repatriation by foreign companies, mainly in the mining sector.
Two military coups, consequences of an increased security risk
Since 2015, insecurity in the Sahel, linked to the activity of armed jihadist groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, has caused more than 2,000 deaths and 2 million displaced persons, according to the UN. After being concentrated in the north, regular attacks have been perpetuated throughout the country, 40% of whose territory is controlled by jihadist groups. After a first military coup in January 2022 that led to the overthrow of President Kaboré by the military junta of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR), justified by the government's inability to contain the jihadist insurgency, Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba was in turn deposed in September on the same grounds as his predecessor. The MPSR and the country have since been led by Captain Traoré, who has been appointed President of the Transition, until the next elections expected in July 2024. The coup was condemned by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the armed forces are themselves divided: Traoré, as well as several members of the junta who assisted him in the coup, supported Damiba in his January 2022 operation, while other officers did not participate in either coup. In this context, political instability will still threaten in 2023, driven by a durably vast security issue.
The country will continue to rely on international cooperation in its fight against terrorism through its participation in the G5 Sahel force, alongside Chad, Mauritania and Niger (Mali having left in May 2022). However, the deterioration of relations with Paris, with the temptation to exploit anti-French sentiment, in parallel with increased diplomatic and military cooperation with Russia, darkens the picture. Such a rapprochement with Russia could damage the country's relations with Western countries, whose military and humanitarian support remains very substantial.
Last updated: February 2023
