Governor Talks: Burkina Faso: Enhancing Domestic Revenue Mobilization in Burkina Faso

Governor talk

DATE: Apr 16, 2026

DAY: Thursday

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

LOCATION: Cedar Hall, HQ1-1-660

Event Series

Overview

Since 2022, Burkina Faso has undertaken ambitious structural reforms to enhance domestic revenue mobilization, driven by reduced external support and increasing social and humanitarian needs amid security challenges. These efforts have produced notable results, with total government revenue reaching an estimated 21.4 percent of GDP in 2025, up from 17.8 percent in 2021. Burkina Faso now has the highest tax revenue to GDP ratio in the WAEMU region and is among the leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. The government's medium-term tax and customs revenue strategy focuses on broadening the tax base, digitalization, and improving revenue administration efficiency, prioritizing tax administration and resource management over increasing tax rates. Key reforms include the digitalization of tax and customs processes, electronic tax filing and payment, reinforced electronic invoicing, and the elimination of checks for payments. Investments have also strengthened tax and customs offices, non-intrusive cargo controls, anti-fraud measures, and VAT withholding. Mining sector reforms have increased government participation, oversight, and transparency, boosting revenues, especially with rising gold prices. Additionally, the Patriotic Support Fund, supported by voluntary contributions and special levies, has added 1–2 percent of GDP to domestic revenues for security spending. 

Governor Talks: Burkina Faso: Enhancing Domestic Revenue Mobilization in Burkina Faso

Panelists

Dr. Aboubakar NACANABO is an internationally recognized expert in public finance, international taxation, and economic governance. He holds a PhD in Management Sciences from Institut des Études d’Administration et de Management in Paris and has had over fifteen (15) years of experience spanning national public administration and leading international tax institutions.

Since October 2022, he has served as Minister of Economy and Finance of Burkina Faso. In this capacity, he oversees the design and implementation of the country’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies. His portfolio encompasses macro-fiscal programming, public financial management, revenue administration reform, treasury operations, land governance, national development planning, and strategic foresight.

Abebe Aemro Selassie is the Director of the African Department, a position he has held since 2016. In this capacity, he oversees the IMF’s work with 45 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Abebe and his team work closely with the region’s leaders and policymakers to improve economic and development outcomes. This includes oversight of the IMF’s intensified engagement with the region in recent years, including some $60 billion in financial support the institution has provided to countries since 2020.

Before being appointed Director in 2016, Mr. Selassie gained extensive experience in a wide-ranging career at the IMF. He held various senior positions, including Deputy Director in the African Department, Mission Chief for Portugal during the Euro Area Crisis and South Africa. He has served as the IMF’s Senior Resident Representative in Uganda and earlier in his career, he worked on the Fund’s lending programs with Turkey, Thailand, Romania and Estonia. While in the Strategy, Policy and Review Department he was deeply involved in IMF program and adjustment policy design issues.

Before joining the IMF in 1994, he worked for the Government of Ethiopia as Principal Economist in the Office of the President and at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London. Abebe did his graduate studies at the London School of Economics.