According to the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office, Burkina Faso has been removed from the US’s trade preference programme due to serious concerns regarding a “unconstitutional shift” in the country’s administration.
Two military coups in Burkina Faso occurred in 2022 as a result of frustration with the government’s inability to stop armed group activities. Although efforts to increase security have been undertaken by both the previous and current military governments, the attacks have persisted.
Sub-Saharan African countries are eligible for duty-free entry to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) if they meet certain criteria, including making progress towards political pluralism.
Burkina Faso had not complied with the AGOA Act, according to the USTR’s office, which added that Washington will cooperate with Ouagadougou and that Burkina Faso would be provided “clear criteria” for a road towards restoration to the trade programme.
In response to the choice, the Burkinabe Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed a November declaration that the timeline for a return to democracy had not changed.
In a July deal with the West African regional group ECOWAS, Burkina Faso agreed to revert to constitutional governance in 24 months.
One of the world’s poorest nations, Burkina Faso, has been engulfed in a conflict where armed factions affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have slaughtered thousands of civilians and sparked one of the fastest-growing humanitarian catastrophes on the continent.
The dry countryside is home to about two million displaced persons who live in improvised camps, many of which are administered by the United Nations.
The north and east have seen the brunt of the violence, which has been raging for approximately seven years. This has crippled local economies, contributed to widespread hunger, and made it difficult for relief organisations to operate there.
A senior UN diplomat was asked to leave Burkina Faso by the military regime just before Christmas. The UN disputed the ruling, claiming that “officials of the United Nations are not covered by the notion of persona non grata.”
Although the government did not provide an explanation at the time, its foreign minister later charged Barbara Manzi with distorting the country’s security position.
