The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has granted new financing of $425 million to Burkina Faso, following the conclusion of its mission to Ouagadougou from October 29 to November 12, led by Jaroslav Viťzork.
The IMF noted that Burkina Faso’s economy is projected to achieve growth of up to 5% in 2025, driven by a significant increase in gold production, which reached around 61 tons last year, as well as improved export revenues this year benefiting from the global rise in gold prices. The fund expects this performance to continue into 2026, despite ongoing security challenges that still weigh heavily on the country.
The IMF praised the government’s reform package, particularly the amendment of mining laws and improved fiscal deficit management, as well as progress in governance and transparency. It also highlighted that Burkina Faso succeeded in exiting the “gray list” of the Financial Action Task Force on anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing at the end of October.
Among the notable economic indicators emphasized by the IMF was the sharp decline in inflation, from 4.2% in 2023 to -0.5% by the end of 2024, due to falling food and energy prices—considered a significant shift in the country’s economic trajectory.
Despite these positive developments, the IMF noted that social challenges remain substantial, with approximately 45% of Burkina Faso’s population living below the poverty line (less than $2 per day). This places pressure on the government to use the financing and reforms to improve living standards and develop basic services, while also testing the effectiveness of ongoing cooperation with the IMF in light of decades of debt that have burdened Africa and contributed to persistent poverty.