OUAGADOUGOU, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Burkina Faso's Council of Ministers on Friday adopted major decisions on defense and economic planning, including a draft law to establish a military reserve and a medium-term budget framework projecting economic growth of 5.7 percent in 2027.
The meeting, chaired by President Ibrahim Traore in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, endorsed a draft budgetary and economic programming document for 2027-2029, a key instrument for national economic planning under the country's National Development Plan.
According to Minister of Economy, Finance and Prospective Aboubakar Nacanabo, the central objective is to improve the efficiency of public spending and ensure that "every franc spent delivers tangible benefits for the population."
He said that the economic growth is projected to reach 5.7 percent in 2027, with inflation expected to remain contained at around 1.5 percent.
Nacanabo also noted that ongoing conflict in the Middle East could affect initial assumptions, stressing the need for "adjustments to better manage the impact of the crisis and maintain robust growth."
On defense, the council approved a draft law on the organization of a military reserve to strengthen national security.
Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs Celestin Simpore said that the initiative seeks to "build a pool of reservists that can be mobilized immediately," while reinforcing ties between the nation and its armed forces.
The plan calls for the recruitment and training of up to 100,000 reservists by the end of 2026, promoting citizen participation in national defense.
According to Simpore, citizens of fighting age will be trained and called upon as needed, as part of broader efforts to adapt defense mechanisms to current security challenges. ■
