Bank Burkina Faso Ouagadougou

The U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso is located on 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau in Ouagadougou. Mailing addresses are: International mail: Ambassade des Etats-Unis, 01 B.P. 35, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Mail from the U.S.: Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440. Tel: (226) 30-67-23; fax: (226) 31-23-68 or (226) 30-38-90. Email address: amembouaga@state.gov. ...

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 bot ... [Read More]

Burkina Faso 2000 Post Report

Ouagadougou combines modern and traditional Africa, withmany paved streets, a commercial center, and attractively designed government buildings.The suburbs contain large shade trees, packed dirt streets, and walled compounds. Thereare several artificial lakes (barrages) at the edge of Ouagadougou that serve as thetown's water reservoirs. About 980,000 people live in Ouagadougou. The name Ouagadougouevolved from the Moré word, Wogdgo, meaning "come and honor me." Ouagadougou isstill the home of the traditional ruler of the Mossi, the Moro Naba. ... [Read More]

Country Commercial Guide

Transfer is made directly by Burkinabe banks once theinterested party presents all relevant documents to the bank. Transfers and repatriationof funds are not limited, and there is no waiting period. Wire transfers to an Americancorrespondent bank take three days and up to a week to a non-correspondent bank. ...

The traditional banking sector is comprised of sevencommercial banks and three specialized credit institutions called "EtablissementsFinanciers": la Banque Internationale pour le Commerce, Industrie etl’Agriculture du Burkina Faso (BICIA-B), la Banque Internationale du Burkina (BIB),la Société Générale de Banque au Burkina (SGBB), la Banque Commerciale du Burkina(Arab-Libyan, BCB), la Caisse Nationale de Crédit Agricole (CNCA), ECOBANK, and the Bankof Africa-Burkina (BOA-B). ... [Read More]

Burkina Faso

Credit cards (including Visa, but not MasterCard) are accepted at a few high-end establishments in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, but virtually nowhere else.  Travelers' checks may be cashed at local banks.  A few ATMs exist in Ouagadougou where travelers can use Visa cards to withdraw money, but these machines may not always accept cards from foreign banks.  ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Americans in Ouagadougou spend a lot of time outdoors — swimming, playing tennis, jogging or walking, and enjoying other outdoor sports and activities. Swimming is a year-round pastime and a good way to take advantage of Ouagadougou’s warm temperatures and sunshine. All Embassy houses have swimming pools. Jogging and walking are popular. The Urban Park of Ouagadougou, a protected forest since the 1930’s, is within walking distance for about half of the Embassy residences (and a 10-minute drive for the others). It features shaded trails for running, cycling, bird watching or just sitting on a bench and watching the world pass by. Ouaga has an active chapter of Hash House Harriers who meet twice a month (on Sunday afternoons) to explore the surrounding countryside. The “Hash” is open to the entire family (both walkers and runners), definitely non-competitive, and ends with a cold ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

Burkina Faso is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. To a lesser extent, Burkinabe women are trafficked to Europe for prostitution. Burkinabe children are trafficked to Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Mali. Burkinabe boys are trafficked within the country for exploitation as agricultural laborers, domestics, metal workers, wood workers, and miners. Burkinabe girls are trafficked internally for exploitation as domestic servants, beggars, and prostitutes. Burkina Faso is a transit country for trafficked Malian children bound for other West African countries. Children from Benin and Togo are trafficked into Burkina Faso for forced labor. The Government of Burkina Faso does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making signi ... [Read More]

USIS English Teacher Training Activities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Before finishing her Fulbright year as a lecturer in Senegal, Kathryn Weed traveled to Burkina Faso to consult with members of the English Department at the University of Ouagadougou. University officials had approached USIS requesting assistance in reforming the school's English teaching curriculum. The USIS office in Ouagadougou agreed to provide help both to improve language teaching at the university and to encourage the use of American cultural content in its English program. They sought funding assistance from the English Language Programs Division to cover Dr. Weed's airfare. The university hosted Dr. Weed in its guest house for most of her stay. Dr. Weed's positive and practical advice resulted in a concrete timetable for implementing changes to the university's English teaching curriculum. ... [Read More]

Togo (07/05)

Togo returned to the Paris Club in 1995 and received Naples terms, the club's most concessionary rates. With the economic downturn associated with Togo's political problems, scheduled external debt service obligations for 1994 were greater than 100% of projected government revenues (excluding bilateral and multilateral assistance). In 2004, the IMF Staff Monitored Program designed to restore macroeconomic stability and financial discipline was in a suspended status. New IMF, World Bank and Africa Development Bank (ADB) lending must await the willingness of Togo's traditional donors -- the European Union, principally, but the U.S. also -- to resume aid flows. Togo's problematic legislative and presidential elections and the government's unwillingness to transition from an Eyadema-led autocracy to democracy deterred these donors from providing Togo with more aid. As of the fall 2002, Togo was $15 million in arrears to the World Bank and owed $3 million to the ADB. ... [Read More]

Tips for Travelers to Sub Saharan Africa

March 2001 Foreword Your trip to Africa will be an adventure off the beaten path. Conditions and customs in sub-Saharan Africa can contrast sharply with those in the United States. These pages contain advice to help you avoid inconvenience and difficulties. Take our advice seriously but don’t let it keep you at home. Most Americans have unforgettable experiences in Africa. We are often welcomed and helped by Africans who are happy to share not just their scenery, but their culture and tradition ... [Read More]