Following her meeting with Roch Marc Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso, Angela Merkel pointed out that the two countries not only enjoy a partnership that spans fifty years of good relations. Since 1961 Burkina Faso has also been a partner country of Germany’s development cooperation.

New, important developments can now be seen in Burkina Faso with the emergence of an active civil society; these developments made it possible to hold the country’s first free elections in 2015. "The elections were an important milestone in the history of Burkina Faso," said Angela Merkel.

Germany and Burkina Faso have maintained diplomatic relations since 1960. Most recently the President of Burkina Faso’s Parliament visited Germany in January 2017. Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller visited Burkina Faso at the end of February 2017.

Expanding economic relations

Regarding the expansion of economic relations with Burkina Faso, the Chancellor announced that HeidelbergCement will be investing in the country. There is also to be an intensive dialogue within the framework of the German-African Business Association.

President Kaboré praised the readiness of German companies to step up their commercial engagement in Burkina Faso. In this context, among other things, he mentioned the creation of small and medium enterprises to process agricultural produce.

Strengthening development cooperation

"We intend to tailor development cooperation more to the needs and the wishes of Burkina Faso," announced Angela Merkel. To this end a new cooperation agreement is to be negotiated in the middle of this year.

President Kaboré stressed the importance of German development interventions including the G20 initiative "Compact with Africa", which supports private investment in African countries and helps enhance the economic and financial environment.

Focus on vocational training and renewable energy

There is to be a focus on vocational training in the agricultural sector, said Angela Merkel. This will cover, for instance, value chain development in cotton processing. Germany is also to step up its engagement in the energy sector, especially in the field of renewable energy.

Germany is the third largest bilateral donor in Burkina Faso. German development cooperation concentrates on agriculture, water supplies and sanitation, and decentralisation. The protection of children’s rights is another focus of development measures. Vocational training is a major cross-cutting issue. Between 2015 and 2017 German development cooperation will provide around 113 million euros.

Identifying opportunities for young people in their own country

To combat migration movements from African states to Europe both sides agreed that people must be prevented from entrusting their lives to human traffickers and smugglers with all the risks this entails.

The Chancellor stressed that the two countries also intend to cooperate more effectively on the repatriation of citizens of Burkina Faso whose applications to remain in Germany are rejected. Angela Merkel explained that projects for young people within the scope of development cooperation are intended to make it clear that "the real opportunities are at home, and that young people in these countries must become actively involved in building their country, because that is the future".

Enhancing security in the fight against terrorism

Germany is to continue its engagement in the fight against terrorism in Burkina Faso, especially in view of the threats posed by its neighbours Mali and Niger. In addition to the G5 Sahel cooperation to fight terrorism it will be important, explained Angela Merkel, to see "whether Germany and the EU manage to include more forces from Burkina Faso in the European Union Training Mission (EUTM)".