The president-elect of Burkina Faso has daunting economic, social and unemployment challenges.



The entire  population of Burkina Faso are looking forward to President-elect Roch Marc Christian Kaboré  fulfill the promise he  made immediately the President of the National Electoral Commission, Barthelemy Kere  declared him winner  of the November 29, 2015 election. “To the youth, to the women and to the elderly. I would like to say that I’m determined to implement my political programme to open the opportunities for a better tomorrow.”

Voice  of America quoted him as saying . Kaboré further urged, “ We must get to work immediately. Together we must serve the country.” The appeal is an implicit recognition of challenges the country faces which under his stewardship must be surmounted  to achieve general prosperity.

Re-launching the Economy

African Economic Outlook  described the economic situation of Burkina Faso by stating that despite the political crisis, lower gold and cotton prices and Eboloa epidemic, strong economic growth is expected to be 5.5 per cent in 2015  and 7 per cent in 2016. For economic growth to keep on progressing, Kaboré’s government needs to fight the high rate of poverty through the perfect management of public finances by using the country’s mining revenue to create more inclusive growth.

The economy is indeed vulnerable to changes in gold, cotton and oil prices, the mainstays of the economy.  The trigger to economic development in the country will be the even distribution of growth opportunities. The African Economic Outlook says, the country has gradually developed a structure where the capital, Ouagadougou, has most of the modern economic infrastructure. This has been done, while abandoning the countryside where 77.3 per cent of the population live.

President Kaboré will therefore have to implement a policy of growth centres based on the potential of each region, and provide the regions that have strong economic potential with modern infrastructure, such as roads, energy, water and information technology that will attract private investors.

Facing Strong Civil Society

Harouna Kabore, the spokesman of a score of civil society groups behind the October 2014 uprising that led to the ousting of former President Blaise Compaore while reacting to the brilliant election of Kaboré said, “We have a new president, we hope he succeeds in his mission in the interests of people who rose up and in the interests of all Burkina Faso’s people.”  Civil society organizations are indeed no obstacle to any regime but are alert to ensure that government works for the interest of the population.

They therefore serve as the mouthpiece and voice of the population who do not hesitate to overtly demonstrate against negative government actions. The civil society played a leading role in chasing away Blaise Compaore when he attempted to modify the constitution in order to stand for re-election. Civil society organizations supported the regular army last September when elements of the Presidential Guard Regiment led by General Gilbert Diendere attempted to topple the transition government led by President Michel Kafando. Not only did they support the regular army, they put up a strong resistance by organizing protest demonstrations in key towns of the country.

During pre-election campaign, Roch Marc Christian Kabore pledged to build “a new Burkina Faso,” by fighting youth unemployment, improving education and modernizing the health system. Reports say, Burkina Faso’s 18 million people, most of whom are living in grinding poverty are hoping for a new long era of peace, development and democracy.