5 facts about the situation Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso was once considered a safe haven in West Africa – even a popular holiday destination for some. But since 2016, the country has been facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Together with Else Lotte Faasse, Disaster Response Officer at ZOA, we outline five key facts about the current situation in Burkina Faso in 2025.

14 July 2025

1. Political instability

In 2022 alone, Burkina Faso experienced two coups within just eight months. The first saw the sitting president removed from power; the second replaced the interim leader with a military regime that remains in control today.

At the same time, the country faces a severe security crisis, with frequent attacks by armed groups. “These incidents rarely make international headlines", explains Else Lotte Faasse. “Partly because the government wants people to return to their villages, but also to avoid spreading fear.” Currently, around 40% of Burkina Faso’s territory is effectively outside government control, as armed groups continue to gain ground.

2. Displacement crisis

Today, over 2 million people in Burkina Faso are internally displaced due to conflict, violence, and terrorist threats. Villages are attacked, residents are forced out, or they are given ultimatums. "In some cases, armed groups warn that if people don’t leave their village by noon, it will be attacked", explains Else Lotte Faasse. "People have no choice but to flee. Many have been displaced multiple times."

In addition, Burkina Faso hosts between 30,000 and 40,000 refugees who fled from neighbouring Mali. Tracking displacement figures accurately is a major challenge due to ongoing violence and limited available data.

3. Climate change worsens the situation

Burkina Faso, located in the fragile Sahel region, is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Drought is characteristic of this region, and the impacts of climate change are clearly visible: rising temperatures, shorter rainy seasons, and increasingly severe droughts. Combined with population displacement, this places growing pressure on already limited resources like water and food.

4. Severe conditions in the north and east

In the northern and eastern regions of Burkina Faso, humanitarian needs are especially acute. These areas are facing frequent attacks, widespread displacement, and extreme shortages of water and food. Limited resources must be shared among more people due to the influx of displaced families.

"Right now, the most urgent needs are food – but also cooking fuel", says Else Lotte. The demand for firewood has led to rapid deforestation, which further worsens climate conditions and can fuel tensions between host communities and displaced families.

To address this, ZOA distributes portable, fuel-efficient stoves, produced locally, and provides training to help people build their own from local materials like soil, water, small sticks, and even donkey dung. This knowledge can be carried with them if they are forced to move again.

5. Growing mistrust within communities

Beyond shortages of food, water, and fuel, another problem threatens stability: growing mistrust between communities. This includes tensions between displaced people and host communities. The fragile security situation has left many unsure of whom to trust.

Displaced people are sometimes seen as a potential threat, even though they themselves are victims of violence. “People worry that newcomers could be linked to the armed groups they fled from", explains Else Lotte. "That fear is understandable but it makes the situation even more complex."

While needs are immense, the government is encouraging organisations to focus not only on emergency relief, but also on long-term recovery. In the northern Sahel region, ZOA distributes goats to displaced families – often former pastoralists who lost their livestock while fleeing. Each household receives a male and a female goat to help them rebuild their livelihoods. In the Nord Region, ZOA combines food assistance with livelihood training, fuel-efficient stoves, and initiatives to promote social cohesion, aiming for long-term impact.