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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 OUAGADOUGOU 001166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO INL, SCT, EEB, AND AF/W MICHAEL HACKETT 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
JUSTICE FOR AFMLS, OIA, AND OPDAT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM EFIN KTFN SNAR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: 2009-2010 INSCR PART II MONEY LAUNDERING AND 
FINANCIAL CRIMES 
 
REF: STATE 114960 
 
¶1. (U) Per reftel request, below is Part Two of the International 
Narcotics Control Strategy Report concerning Money Laundering and 
Financial Crimes. 
 
¶2.  (U) The following are the responses for Burkina Faso to the 
2010 
INCSR, Part II, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes (paragraph 
numbers are keyed to REFTEL): 
(Begin text) 
 
GENERAL QUESTIONS 
----------------- 
 
¶18. (U) Is the jurisdiction considered an important regional 
financial center? What is its significance in terms of money 
laundering? 
 
Burkina Faso is not a regional financial center.  It is not 
perceived as a significant money laundering conduit. 
 
¶19. (U) To the extent it is known, is money laundering/terrorist 
financing primarily related to proceeds from illegal narcotics, 
psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors? 
(If applicable, specify drug.) If not, what is/are the major 
source/s of the proceeds?  Also, to the extent known, do the 
criminal proceeds laundered in the jurisdiction derive primarily 
from domestic or foreign criminal activity? Are the money laundering 
proceeds controlled by drug-trafficking organizations, organized 
crime, or terrorist groups operating locally? What is the extent 
that public corruption contributes to money laundering/terrorist 
financing in the host country?  If applicable, please provide 
examples. 
 
No examples of corruption in the domain of drug trafficking have 
been reported by GOBF officials, journalists or by any NGO. 
 
¶20. (U) Is there a significant black market for smuggled goods in 
the country?  If so, is there evidence to suggest that it is 
significantly funded by narcotic proceeds or other illicit proceeds? 
Does contraband smuggling generate funds that are laundered through 
the financial system? 
 
Although the smuggling of goods does take place in Burkina Faso, 
there is no evidence to suggest that large-scale money laundering is 
linked to this activity. 
 
¶21. (U) Does money laundering/terrorist financing occur in the 
formal financial sector, within an offshore financial center or free 
trade zone, or in the non-bank financial system (e.g. exchange 
houses) or via alternative remittance systems, such as hawala, 
hundi, or other systems? Please note if the country is experiencing 
an overall increase or decrease in financial crimes. 
 
Burkina Faso's economy is primarily cash-based; and most economic 
activity takes place in the informal sector. Only an estimated six 
percent of the 
population has bank accounts. The country is serviced by a 
traditional banking sector composed of 11 commercial banks and three 
specialized credit institutions called, "Etablissements Financiers." 
 Banks include: the Banque Internationale pour le Commerce, 
l'Industrie et l'Agriculture du Burkina Faso (BICIA-B), the Banque 
Internationale du Burkina (BIB), the Societe Generale de Banques du 
Burkina (SGBB), the Banque Commerciale du Burkina 
(Arabo-Libyan),(BCB), the Banque Agricole et Commerciale du Burkina 
(BACB), 
Ecobank, Bank of Africa, and Banque Sahelo-Sahelienne pour 
l'Investissement et le Commerce (BSIC), and Coris Banque 
International, Banque Atlantique. 
 
(22. (U) To the post's knowledge, do the jurisdiction's financial 
institutions engage in currency transactions involving international 
narcotics trafficking proceeds that include significant amounts of 
U.S. currency or currency derived from illegal drug sales in the 
United States or that otherwise significantly affect the United 
States? 
 
No. 
 
¶23. (U) Is there any indication that trade-based money laundering 
occurs in the post's jurisdiction? 
 
There have been unsubstantiated reports of some foreign-owned 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  002 OF 008 
 
 
businesses engaging in money laundering and narcotics trading. 
Others have openly speculated about the source of money for the many 
high end homes in the upscale development, Ouaga 2000. 
 
President Blaise Compaore has publicly stated that the illegal 
narcotics trade is one of the most serious national security threats 
faced by Burkina Faso, although the problem is still small scale by 
regional standards. 
 
-------------------------- 
OFFSHORE FINANCIAL CENTERS 
-------------------------- 
 
¶24. (U) Is the country considered an offshore financial center? 
There are no offshore banking institutions. 
 
¶25. (U) Are offshore banks, international business companies, or 
other forms of exempt or shell companies or trusts permitted? 
 
N/A 
 
¶26. (U) Please provide the number of offshore casinos or internet 
gaming sites. 
 
N/A 
 
¶27. (U) Is there a separate regulatory agency for the offshore 
sector, or is the offshore financial center regulated by the onshore 
regulator? 
 
N/A 
 
---------------- 
FREE TRADE ZONES (FTZs) 
---------------- 
 
¶28. (U) Are there free trade zones operating in the jurisdiction? 
 
There are no free trade zones in Burkina Faso. 
 
¶29. (U) Is there any indication that these FTZs are being used in 
trade-based money laundering schemes or by the financiers of 
terrorism? 
 
N/A 
 
¶30. (U) What types of supervisory programs and/or due diligence 
procedures are in place to monitor activities in the FTZ zone? 
 
N/A 
 
------------------------------ 
LEGAL FOUNDATION OF AML REGIME 
------------------------------ 
 
¶31. (U) What laws and regulations exist in relation to AML/CFT? 
Is money laundering a criminal offense in this jurisdiction? 
Does the law apply only to drug-related money laundering? 
Does the jurisdiction list specific crimes as predicate offences or 
take an "all serious crimes" approach? In some jurisdictions, 
anti-money laundering laws are applicable to predicate offences 
defined as "all serious crimes," crimes that carry a threshold 
minimum sentence in the jurisdiction's penal code. If there is a 
threshold minimum sentence, what is that threshold? If the country 
has a "list" approach, what offenses are covered? 
 
In 2000, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 
established the Intergovernmental Group for Action against Money 
Laundering (GIABA), a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) style 
regional body based in Dakar, Senegal.  GIABA is charged with 
promoting legislation against money laundering and coordinating the 
activities of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) 
member countries. 
 
Burkina Faso outlaws the use, possession, and selling of all forms 
of drugs. There are also laws against corruption and money 
laundering. Each of these laws is implicated in supporting 
counter-drug efforts. 
On May 3-5, 2009 the country participated to the 11th meeting of the 
Technical Commission of the Intergovernmental Group of Action 
against Money Laundry and Terrorism Funding in West Africa in 
Bamako, Mali. 
March 2003, WAEMU adopted a uniform law to combat money laundering 
from a variety of sources and created Cellule Nationale de 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  003 OF 008 
 
 
Traitement des 
 Informations Financieres(CENTIF).  The six members of the CENTIF 
were put in place October 1, 2009 for a term of three years with the 
possibility to serve one additional term. 
Regulation 17 article 55 of 2004 allows the government to 
investigate any wealth without proof of legitimate origin. 
 
¶32. (U) Has the country enacted secrecy laws that prevent disclosure 
of client and ownership information by domestic and offshore 
financial services companies to bank supervisors and law enforcement 
authorities? 
 
Burkina Faso has not enacted secrecy laws that prevent the 
disclosure of client or ownership information. 
 
---------------- 
FINANCIAL SECTOR 
---------------- 
 
¶33.  (U) Are bearer shares permitted for banks and/or for 
companies? 
 
Post has not been able to determine whether bearer shares are 
permitted or not. 
 
¶34. (U) Which entities supervise and examine financial institutions 
for compliance with AML/CFT laws and regulations? What is their 
capacity to conduct compliance investigations (i.e. are they 
adequately staffed and trained)? 
 
CENTIF is empowered to investigate, demand documents, propose 
reforms as needed to combat money laundering. It produces a report 
annually on its activities. 
 
¶35. (U) Are banks and other financial institutions required to know, 
record, and report the identity of customers engaging in significant 
transactions, including the recording of large currency transactions 
at thresholds appropriate to the country's economic situation? What 
is the statutory threshold? 
 
Financial institutions are obligated to confirm the identity and 
address of 
their clients before they enter into any type of financial 
transaction or open an account.  Clients must present their original 
national identity card and provide a current home and work address. 
 
For those transactions amounting to more than 5,000,000 F CFA, all 
parties to the transaction must be disclosed. 
 
¶36. (U) Are banks and other financial institutions required to 
maintain for an adequate time records necessary to reconstruct 
significant transactions through financial institutions in order to 
be able to respond quickly to information requests from appropriate 
government authorities in narcotics-related or other money 
laundering or terrorist finance cases? For how long? 
 
Financial organizations must keep records of accounts for ten years. 
They must be made available to judicial authorities, state agents 
investigating possible wrong doing and the authorities of CENTIF. 
 
¶37. (U) Do financial institutions report suspicious transactions? 
Which ones? Is such reporting mandatory or voluntary? Is reporting 
required for all suspicious transactions, or is there a threshold 
amount below which suspicious transaction reports are not required? 
 
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), based in Dakar, 
Senegal, is the Central Bank for countries in the West African 
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): Benin, Burkina Faso, 
Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, all of 
which use the French-backed CFA franc currency. The BCEAO requires 
that all bank deposits over $13,500 in member countries must be 
reported. 
 
In March 2003, WAEMU adopted a uniform law to combat money 
laundering from a variety of sources.  The law imposes due diligence 
obligations on financial institutions and directs them to report 
suspicious transactions to the Cellule Nationale de Traitement des 
Informations Financieres (CENTIF) of each WAEMU member state. 
 
¶38. (U) Are reporting individuals protected by law with respect to 
their cooperation with law enforcement entities? 
 
Yes. 
 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  004 OF 008 
 
 
---------------- 
INFORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR AND NONFINANCIAL BUSINESSES AND 
PROFESSIONS 
---------------- 
 
¶39. (U) Are the AML/CFT controls as described in the preceeding 5 
paragraphs applied to non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and 
designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), such 
as exchange houses, stock brokerages, cash couriers, casinos, 
dealers in jewels and precious metals, insurance companies, pawn 
shops, realtors, high-worth dealers in art and vehicles, and to 
intermediaries, such as lawyers, accountants, notaries, or 
broker/dealers? Which are subject to the requirements to report 
suspicious transactions and/or large transactions? Which entities 
have actually filed such reports? 
 
In late 1998, Burkina Faso adopted rule R #09, governing foreign 
financial relations. Under this rule, banks and other financial 
institutions are required to report all cash or bond payments of 5 
million CFA (USD 10,000) or more and all operations in excess of 10 
million CFA (USD 20,000).  They must also verify the identity of 
both the originator and recipient of these funds as well as details 
of the operation involved in the transaction.  Institutions must 
keep records for 10 years following closure of an account or 
finalization of a transaction. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT (FIU)/INVESTIGATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
40 - 43, 45. (U) 
 
CENTIF is an autonomous entity under the Ministry of Finance, funded 
by the GOBF, UEMOA and various NGOs.  It has yet to be voted on by 
the National Assembly and the legal framework is not presently in 
place although the six members of CENTIF have been identified. 
 
It will have reciprocal agreements with financial institutions for 
the exchange of information and must report suspicious transactions 
to judicial authorities, the government, and to the BCEAO.  CENTIF 
draws on the expertise of the Customs Bureau, the Department of the 
Treasury, the Ministry of Finance, the Department of Importation, 
the Director of Central Administration, magistrates, the police, and 
the BCEAO. 
 
¶44. (SBU) How many suspicious transaction reports (STRs) were 
received in 2009?  How many were the subject of investigation or 
resulted in referrals to law enforcement for investigation? 
 
There are two cases pending judgment. One involves a national of 
Niger who entered Burkina Faso with a large, unjustified sum of 
money. The second involves a national of Burkina Faso who is not 
able to justify the origin of some of his money. 
 
CENTIF will be the organization that will track these types of cases 
in the future and will be able to provide more complete reporting. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
ASSET FORFEITURE AND SEIZURE LEGISLATION 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶46. (U) Have there been arrests, prosecutions, and convictions for 
money laundering or terrorist financing since January 1, 2009? How 
many?  Please report highlights of any major cases not previously 
reported. 
 
No. 
 
¶47. (U) The seizure and forfeiture of assets (including but not 
limited to bank accounts, other financial assets, airplanes, autos, 
residences, other 
property) derived from international drug trade, money laundering, 
terrorist financing or other serious crimes can be important 
elements in efforts to control drug trafficking, money laundering, 
terrorist financing and organized crime activity.  Has the country 
enacted laws and established systems for identifying, tracing, 
freezing, seizing, and forfeiting narcotics-related assets as well 
as assets derived from, or intended for, terrorist financing  and 
other serious crimes?  If so, please describe the authority 
(regulatory or judicial). Are new legislation or changes in current 
laws, regulations, judicial or administrative authorities being 
considered? 
 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  005.2 OF 008 
 
 
The primary piece of legislation outlawing drugs is law number 017, 
voted into existence in 1999 by the National Assembly. According to 
this law, all types and quantities of drugs are illegal with the 
exception of medical prescriptions. Sentencing of offenders depends 
on the type and the quantity of the drug found in possession, on 
whether the offender is believed to be dealer, a consumer or a 
producer, and on the number of similar charges on the offender's 
record. 
 
To combat drug trafficking, the Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) 
has created the Inter-Ministerial National Committee against Drugs 
(NCAD), which is directed by the Ministry of Security and includes 
representatives from 24 of the 34 ministries.  NCAD is a member of 
both the United Nations Drug Committee(UNDC)and the African Union 
Drug Committee. There are currently plans underway to link this 
committee directly to the Prime Ministry, allowing it an even 
greater source of financial resources. 
 
¶48. (U) What are the obstacles or disincentives to enacting such 
laws, regulations, other authorities? 
 
Burkina Faso has a very low capacity to conduct investigations due a 
significant lack of equipment and training. 
- According to Police Commissary Adama Ouedraogo from the NCAD, 
Burkina Faso is a transit-country because of: 
--the porosity of its borders 
--the difficulty and lack resources necessary to police the 
borders, 
--the very low capabilities of Ouagadougou International Airport to 
detect drugs. 
 
¶49. (U) What are the major provisions in current and/or proposed 
legislation?  For example, what assets can be seized? Do they 
include: instruments of crime such as conveyances used to transport 
narcotics, property on which illicit crops are grown or are used to 
support terrorist activity, or intangible property such as bank 
accounts? Can substitute assets be seized or must a relationship to 
the crime be proven? Can legitimate businesses be seized if used to 
launder drug money, support terrorist activity, or are otherwise 
related to other criminal proceeds? 
 
In late 2006, the GOBF adopted #026-2006/AN, an anti-money 
laundering law, which provides an effective mechanism to combat 
financial crimes.  This Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism 
Finance (AML/CTF) legislation states that "it is illegal to 
transform, conceal, or acquire any goods or funds that result from 
participation in a criminal action." 
 
According to #026-2006/AN, AML/CTF controls are applicable to all 
individuals and entities involved in the deposit, exchange, 
conversion or movement of funds.  The law specifically includes the 
following entities: the Treasury, BCEAO, all financial 
organizations, the national lottery, members of the judicial 
profession who counsel clients on the purchase or sale of goods, 
commercial enterprises, real estate agents, merchants selling high 
value items, fund transporters, casino owners, travel agents and 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  Banks and financial 
institutions are also required to implement programs to centralize 
client records, train employees on the identification of suspicious 
transactions, and establish internal controls to prevent money 
laundering. 
 
¶50. (U) What government entities are responsible for tracing, 
seizing assets and freezing assets?  Is there a period of time 
ascribed to the action of freezing, after which the assets are 
released?  Are frozen assets confiscated?  If yes, by what 
government entity?  Is there an asset forfeiture fund?  What 
entity/s receive/s proceeds from asset seizures and forfeitures? 
Which agencies manage and have reqponsibility for seized  assets? 
What is their capacity to manage seized assets? 
 
026-2006/AN also gives the investigating magistrate authority to 
order the seizure of assets relating to money laundering and 
terrorist financing.  Individuals convicted of attempted or actual 
money laundering activities face prison sentences of three to seven 
years, mandatory confiscation of their merchandise, and fines triple 
the amount of the goods or money that was laundered.  AML/CTF 
legislation calls for the protection of all individuals who 
cooperate with law enforcement entities on money laundering or 
terrorism issues. 
 
¶51. (U) Does the banking community cooperate with enforcement 
efforts to trace funds and seize/freeze bank accounts? 
 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  006 OF 008 
 
 
WAEMU has a directive on combatting money laundering.  According to 
this directive, all the banks in Burkina and the other WAEMU member 
countries should declare any suspect operation to the CENTIFs which 
exist in each country.  If a decision of seizing or freezing 
accounts is taken, banks should implement it. 
 
¶52. (U) Does the law allow for civil as well as criminal 
forfeiture? 
 
Yes. 
 
¶53. (U) Does the government enforce existing asset seizure and 
forfeiture laws?  Does the jurisdiction have adequate police 
powers and resources to trace, seize and freeze assets?  If 
so, can the jurisdiction freeze assets without undue delay? 
 
The police have a special unit dedicated to countering drug 
trafficking, although this unit is not well trained or well 
equipped. The police, the gendarmerie, and the forest guards, 
especially those working at borders, receive training from the NCAD. 
Additionally, lawyers working for the NCAD receive training on 
Burkina Faso's drug laws. 
 
¶54. (U) Does the government have an independent national system and 
mechanism for freezing terrorist assets? 
 
BCEAO and WAEMU have this authority. 
 
¶55. (U) What was the dollar amount of narcotics--related, 
terrorist-related and other criminal-related assets frozen, 
seized, and/or forfeited in the past year? How does this 
amount compare to amounts seized/forfeited/frozen in previous 
years? 
 
 For the first six months of 2009 law enforcement officials seized: 
 
--619,877 Kg of cannabis 
--1,235 Kg of cocaine 
--0,285 Kg of heroine 
--Illegal medical 4,400 tons 
 
 
¶56. (U) Has the country enacted laws for the sharing of seized 
assets with other governments? Is the government engaged in 
bilateral or multilateral negotiations with other governments to 
enhance asset tracing, freezing and seizure? 
 
No. 
 
------------------- 
TERRORIST FINANCING 
------------------- 
 
¶57. (U) Has the jurisdiction criminalized the financing of terrorism 
as required by the UN International Convention for the Suppression 
of the Financing of Terrorism and UN Security Council Resolution 
1373?  If so, please provide title of act, date of enactment, and 
pertinent details.  If the jurisdiction has an "all serious crimes" 
anti-money laundering law, please indicate if terrorism and 
terrorist financing are considered serious crimes. If the country 
has listed the predicate offenses for money laundering, please 
indicate if terrorism and terrorist financing are on the list. 
 
In January 2006, GIABA's mandate was revised to fully incorporate 
the imperative to fight terrorism financing. 
 
In June 2007, the GOBF established the Cellule Nationale de 
Traitement des Informations Financihres (CENTIF), which is 
responsible for detecting and investigating financial crimes, 
including money laundering and terrorist finance.  CENTIF is an 
autonomous entity under the Ministry of Finance, funded by the GOBF, 
UEMOA and various NGOs.  It has reciprocal agreements with financial 
institutions for the exchange of information and must report 
suspicious transactions to judicial authorities, the government, and 
to the BCEAO.  CENTIF draws on the expertise of the Customs Bureau, 
the Department of the Treasury, the Ministry of Finance, the 
Department of Importation, the Director of Central Administration, 
magistrates, the police, and the BCEAO. 
 
¶58. (U) Has the jurisdiction circulated to its financial 
institutions the list of individuals and entities that have been 
included on the UN 1267 sanctions committee's consolidated list as 
being linked to Usama bin Ladin, members 
of the Al Qa'ida organization or the Taliban? Does the jurisdiction 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  007 OF 008 
 
 
circulate the list of terrorist organizations/financiers that the 
USG or the European Union (EU) have designated under relevant 
authorities? Did the jurisdiction identify, freeze, seize, and/or 
forfeit related assets in 2009?  If so, please provide dollar 
amount. 
 
June 2003, WAEMU issued a directive which provided a legal basis for 
governments to implement the asset freeze proisions of UNSCR 1373. 
It also directed member govrnments to circulate the names of 
suspected terrrists and terrorist organizations on the UNSCR 1267 
Sanctions Committee's onsolidated List to all financial 
institutions. 
 
¶59. (U) Does the jurisdiction acknowledge the exstence and use of 
value transfer systems outsidethe formal financal system? Describe 
the steps he jurisdiction has taken regarding regulating 
alernative remittance systems, such as hawala or huni; the 
exploitation thereof, including blackmarket exchanges; money 
remitters; trade-based money laundering; cross-border cash 
smuggling; or the misuse of precious metals and stones. 
 
Because the country's borders tend to be largely unregulated, 
illegal narcotics operations and black market currency exchanges 
could easily flow in an unregulated manner in and out of the country 
and from one country to another within the region. 
 
¶60. (U) Discuss the efforts the jurisdiction has taken to thwart 
the misuse of charitable and or non-profit entities that can 
be used as conduits for the financing of terrorism. For 
example, is there a government entity that regulates or 
supervises the sector? If so, please name the entity. Does it 
monitor the sector for potential terrorist financing abuse? 
How are overseas financial transactions monitored to prevent 
potential terrorist financing? 
 
None at this time. 
 
------------------------------- 
CROSS-BORDER TRANSPORTATION OF CURRENCY AND NEGOTIABLE 
INSTRUMENTS 
 
¶61. (U) Are there statutory requirements for limiting or 
monitoring the cross-border transportation of currency and 
monetary instruments? If so, please describe cross-border 
currency reporting requirements for both inbound and outbound 
currency, including those that apply to cash couriers, 
including the monetary threshold that would require a report 
to be filed. Are mandatory declaration forms used at border 
crossings? 
 
One should make declaration if the amount exceeds CFAF 5 million. 
 
¶62. (U) Are cash declaration or smuggling reports entered into a 
database? Is such data shared between host government 
agencies, in particular with an existing FIU? 
 
No. 
 
------------------------- 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 
------------------------- 
 
¶63. (U) Has the country adopted laws or regulations that allow 
for the exchange of records with the United States on 
investigations and proceedings related to narcotics, 
all-source money laundering, terrorism and terrorist 
financing?  Has the jurisdiction reached agreement with the 
United States authorities on a mechanism for exchange of 
records in connection with such investigations and 
proceedings?  If not, is the country negotiating in good 
faith with the United States to establish such an exchange 
mechanism? Does the jurisdiction have similar arrangements 
with other jurisdictions? 
 
No. 
 
¶64. (U) Identify all treaties, agreements, or other mechanisms 
for information exchange that the host country has entered 
into with the USG or other countries, including agreements 
between the FIU and its counterparts, as well as membership 
in the Egmont group, and those with home country supervisors 
to facilitate the exchange of supervisory information 
regarding banks and trust companies operating in the host 
country. Describe the status of efforts to update such 
 
OUAGADOUGO 00001166  008 OF 008 
 
 
agreements or arrangements. 
 
See references to BCEAO and WAEMU. 
 
¶65. (U) Has the country cooperated, when requested, with 
appropriate USG law enforcement agencies and other 
governments investigating financial crimes related to 
narcotics, terrorism, terrorist financing and other crimes? 
If the country has cooperated on important cases with USG 
agencies, please describe. 
 
In August, 2009, the embassy relayed, under cover of diplomatic 
note, an official request for assistance related to a Department of 
Justice narcotics trafficking investigation.  The note requested 
that the government of Burkina Faso investigate and verify 
information presented in the case, which involved the seizure of 
nearly $300,000 from a Burkinabe national for suspected trafficking. 
 The Ministry of Security completed its investigation and returned 
the gathered information, complete and as requested, to the embassy 
in November 2009. 
¶66. (U) Please detail any instances of refusals to cooperate with 
foreign governments, as well as any actions taken by the USG 
and any international organization to address such obstacles, 
including the imposition of sanctions or penalties. 
 
None. 
 
¶67. (U) Is the country a party to the UN International Convention 
against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic 
Substances (Vienna Convention), the UN Convention Against 
Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention), the UN 
Convention Against Corruption, and the UN International 
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 
or other applicable agreements and conventions? If the 
country ratified or acceded to these conventions in 2009, 
please provide the date of ratification/accession. 
 
Burkina Faso has signed the following multi-lateral agreements: the 
United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and 
Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, 
supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational 
Organized Crime (entered into force March 2005); the United Nations 
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (entered into 
force 
September 2003); United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic 
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (entered into force 
November 1990). Burkina Faso is also a party to the UN 
International 
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. 
 
¶68. (U) Does the country adhere to relevant international money 
laundering standards, such as the recommendations of the 
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)? If so, what steps is it 
taking to implement the standards? Is it a member of any 
FATF-style regional body? If not, what, if any, steps is the 
country taking to become a member of a body or to implement 
AML/CFT measures? 
 
Key challenges faced by Burkina Faso in the fight against money 
laundering, illegal narcotics and terrorism finance include: 
ineffective regional cooperation, ineffective capital controls for 
cross border transactions, regional corruption, lack of resources, 
and weak and overburdened judicial and law enforcement systems.(End 
text) 
 
¶3. (U) Embassy Ouagadougou's point of contact for inquiries is 
Economic Officer Sarah Gourde (gourdesm@state.gov).  Backup POC is 
Economic Commercial Assistant, Francois Cabore 
(caborefh@state.gov). 
 
HANKINS