Dr. Sampawende Jules Tapsoba, an economist at the IMF originally from Burkina Faso, analyzes the economic situation of his home country. He explains that relations between the IMF and Africa have evolved a lot since the 1980s-90s and structural adjustment programs.
Previously, the IMF intervened mainly to help African states resolve their budgetary and financing difficulties.
Today, the IMF’s role is broader and more flexible to support the economic development of the continent.When asked about the economic model to inspire Burkina Faso, Tapsoba stresses that Africa needs to be put into perspective, as it is a continent of 54 very diverse countries.
Each country must find its own path by drawing inspiration from the successes of other African states, while taking into account its specific context. He mentions for example the case of Rwanda which has successfully made its post-conflict transition thanks to a clear vision and good governance.
According to Tapsoba, the priorities for Burkina Faso after the political transition should be to revive economic growth, create jobs for youth and reduce inequalities.
This involves investments in promising sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and education. The challenge is to implement coherent economic policies in the long term, beyond political changes.
