Burkina Faso calls for humanitarian aid focused on sustainable projects
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sidwaya
Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré called on the European Union to prioritise sustainable humanitarian support and structural projects in return areas. During his meeting with Hadja Lahbib in Brussels on 9 November, he also discussed the safety of humanitarian workers, according to Sidwaya.
Burkina Faso is calling on the European Union to prioritise sustainable humanitarian aid based on structural projects enabling beneficiary populations to develop their own capacities. Burkinabè Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré advocated this approach on 9 November 2026 in Brussels during a meeting with Hadja Lahbib, European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, according to Sidwaya.
Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré notably cited what he considers the harmful effects of certain support mechanisms, such as cash transfers, and called for projects to target return areas in particular. He also stressed the use of local expertise to better take account of the context of the countries concerned, according to Sidwaya.
The discussions also covered the safety and access of humanitarian workers to areas of intervention. Both sides acknowledged the need to better inform these workers about their role, limitations, humanitarian principles and Burkinabè regulations. The Burkinabè government says it wants to facilitate humanitarian access in secure areas while requiring compliance with national security imperatives, according to Sidwaya.
Hadja Lahbib said she wanted to continue the partnership with Burkina Faso and obtain clarification on the authorities’ vision so as to enable humanitarian workers to operate in conditions of neutrality and safety, according to Sidwaya. The meeting came three days after Burkina Faso and the EU expressed a desire to relaunch their partnership, announced on 6 November 2026.
