Traveling Luck for Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso, Africa

Crime

There have been incidents involving armed groups stopping vehicles to rob them in various parts of the country, particularly at night.  Incidents are more frequent on secondary roads in the east (particularly roads to Benin, Bogande and Gayeri).

You should take particular care on the road between Ouagadougou and Po.  On 24 July 2005, armed attackers killed one person and injured seven others.

Street crime poses high risks for visitors.  Most reported incidents involve opportunist snatches of purses, wallets, jewellery and other valuable.  Thieves are particularly active in crowds.  The areas near and around the UN Circle and the former Central Market in Ouagadougou experience the highest amount of street crime.  You should take sensible precautions.  Do not carry valuables in public places or walk alone at night.

Foreign visitors and residents in Burkina Faso are increasingly becoming targets by scam artists.  The scams come in many forms, and can pose great financial loss to victims.  Scam artists are also targeting individuals in the UK.  Relatives or friends in the UK should first check with the person who has travelled to Burkina Faso before becoming involved in the transfer of money.  If you are concerned about someone who has travelled to Burkina Faso you should contact the Consular Section of the British High Commission, Accra (E-mail: high.commission.accra@fco.gov.uk). Schemes in operation by West African criminal networks are designed to facilitate victims parting with money, known as advance fee or 419 fraud.  Scam artists are also known to be targeting internet dating/personal sites with the intention of soliciting money from victims.  For further information on advance fee fraud please see: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert.

Political Situation

Burkina Faso Country Profile.

The political situation is generally stable. 

There are occasional demonstrations in Ouagadougou about political or economic grievances; it is wise to avoid these.

A dispute between police and military forces led to exchanges of gunfire in Ouagadougou on 20 December 2006.

In October 2003, a small number of arrests were made in Ouagadougou following an alleged plot to overthrow the government.  The Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso border, which had been closed due to the crisis in Ivory Coast, was re-opened in September 2003, but remains unsafe with reports of cross border trafficking of small arms.  There are still crisis-related refugee movements in the border area.

Road Safety

Travel at night, especially outside towns, is not advised.  With a few exceptions, roads are poor with few street lights.  There is the risk of banditry and also of hitting stray livestock.  Road conditions off the main roads are often difficult, especially in the rainy season (June-September).  Vehicles do not always have headlights and are often in unsound mechanical condition.

It is important not to leave clearly marked roads or tracks (or even to venture along minor roads in remote areas) except in convoy.  If you break down you may not otherwise be able to attract help.  Carry sufficient drinking water to last you if you break down.

Driving licences from European countries are accepted in Burkina Faso.

Air Safety

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community.  You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm.

If you commit a criminal offence, for example, drug trafficking, you can expect to be subjected to local law.  Local prison conditions are harsh.

Burkina Faso is a Muslim country, where women are expected to dress modestly.

You should not photograph military or other government installations.

Homosexuality is illegal.

British nationals require a valid visa and a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever to enter Burkina Faso.  Burkina Faso is represented in the UK on a non-resident basis from its Embassy in Brussels.  The Embassy's website provides details of visa requirements.  The Honorary Consul of Burkina Faso to the UK, Mr Colin Seelig (020 8710 6290), may also be able to assist with applications.  It may also be possible to obtain visas from the Burkina Faso Embassy in Paris.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see: Travel Insurance.  This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage.

Medical facilities in Burkina Faso are very limited.  For serious medical treatment, evacuation to Europe is necessary. 

Malaria and other tropical and waterborne diseases are prevalent.  You should consider taking protections against malaria and using insect repellent.  More than three-quarters of British travellers who contracted malaria in 2005 did not take preventive measures, such as malaria prevention tablets. However, malaria can occur despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in the first year following your return from travelling to a malaria risk country.  Before travelling you should seek medical advice about the malaria risk in Burkina Faso.

HIV/AIDS is prevalent.

There has been a cholera outbreak in Ouagadougou and its outlying areas, including as far as Koudougou, sixty miles West of the capital.  The authorities reported over 200 cases including six deaths.  The district of Pissy, at the southern periphery of the capital, has been particularly badly hit.  Be careful of personal hygiene and avoid food and drink from sources that you are unsure of.

Burkina Faso suffers from an annual meningitis epidemic from January to May.  It spreads quickly, then is rapidly stopped by the onset of the rainy season.  You are strongly advised to seek vaccination against the A, C and W135 strains of the disease before travel to the region.  You are also advised to avoid crowds (indoors and outdoors as the disease is easily spread).

Safe drinking water is scarce in Burkina Faso.  You are advised to drink only boiled/bottled water.  Remember to take adequate supplies of drinkable water if travelling in rural areas.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at:  www.dh.gov.uk.

The World Animal Health Organization (OIE) has confirmed that there has been an outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in poultry at a farm near Ouagadougou.  No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low.  As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with the FCO's Avian and Pandemic Influenza Factsheet, which gives more detailed advice and information.

If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help.

The number of British visitors to Burkina Faso is low.  The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Burkina Faso is for replacing lost and stolen passports.

There is no British Embassy in Burkina Faso.  The British Ambassador to Burkina Faso resides in Accra.  Our Honorary Consul, Mr Patrick de Leland, can only offer limited consular assistance in an emergency.  His contact details are:

Mr Patrick de Lelande

Honorary Consulate of the UK in Burkina Faso

01 BP 6490 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso

Based at ICI (Initiatives Conseil International)

Impasse Thévenoud, 330

Secteur 01 of Ouagadougou

Tel: +226 50 30 88 60

Fax: +226 50 31 25 43

Epmail: ici@fasonet.bf

The office is situated 150 metres from the Cathedral going towards City Hall on the right hand side. 

You should carry ID (passport or residence permit) at all times, particularly when driving or taking a taxi outside Ouagadougou, when you are likely to have to produce it.

You should reconfirm onward/return flights 72 hours in advance.

Money

Visa cards are accepted by a few of the larger hotels and restaurants in Ouagadougou (as are travellers' cheques denominated in Euros).  You are unlikely to be able to use them anywhere outside the capital.  Other brands of credit cards are not accepted.  There are a few ATMs in Ouagadougou (Visa only).  Travellers' cheques are exchangeable in banks in Ouagadougou.  Euro travellers' cheques are exchanged at the fixed rate prevailing between the CFA Franc and the Euro; exchange rates on other currency travellers' cheques can be poor.  In general, and in particular outside Ouagadougou, you should ensure you have enough cash to cover any eventuality.

The Central Bank (BCEAO) has issued the following new CFA notes and coins in Burkina Faso:  10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 CFA notes; 500 and 200 CFA coins.

The old notes ceased to be legal tender on 31 December 2004.