Burkina Faso: Quebec's links to the West African nation
Quebec has language, humanitarian, economic links to Burkina Faso
Canada's involvement with Burkina Faso is multi-layered – with political, economic, and charitable engagements.
The small West African country became one of Canada's 25 countries of focus in 2014, meaning Ottawa thought the landlocked nation was aligned with Canadian foreign policy priorities and would benefit from development assistance.
Like Quebec, Burkina Faso's main language is French and it belongs to La Francophonie, an international organization that represents areas with large French-speaking populations.
Its capital, Ouagadougou, is also twinned with Quebec City.
Although it's unclear exactly how many Burkinabé live in Canada, the country's embassy says most of its expatriates reside in Montreal.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard also met with the country's former prime minister in 2014.
NGOs in Burkina Faso
Some of Canada's largest NGOs, including Save the Children, Plan Canada and Oxfam Québec, have operations in Burkina Faso. However, for safety reasons, they did not say if any Canadians are currently working on the ground.
Last Friday, a terrorist siege killed 28 people, including six Canadians, in the country's capital.
- Burkina Faso attack leaves 6 Canadians from Quebec dead
- Burkina Faso attacks: Lac-Beauport held vigil for 6 Quebecers killed
The Humanitarian Coalition, the umbrella organization that raises funds for the three organizations, says the NGOs are responsible for hiring their own security detail.
"Many of them contact or partner with local organizations," said Yosé Cormier, spokesperson for Humanitarian Coalition.
The six Canadians were doing humanitarian work with volunteer NGO CASIRA and the Congrégation des sœurs de Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours. The religious congregation said it never had any problems while working in Burkina Faso. CASIRA has released a statement condemning the attacks.
After the recent mining boom, gold became Burkina Faso's biggest export in 2008. Since then, Canadian companies have become majority stakeholders in three of the five largest mining projects in the country. In 2013, Canadian mining assets in Burkina Faso reached $1.6 billion.
Montreal-based company SEMAFO owns Mana Mine, the third largest mine in Burkina Faso, located some 260 kilometres southwest of the Ouagadougou. It processes about 7,200 tonnes of gold a day.
About 50 Canadian citizens currently work at the mine, most of them are Quebecers. After the killings of six Canadians, SEMAFO issued a statement saying its "employees are safe and were not involved in the terrorist attack on the Splendid Hotel in downtown Ouagadougou." The company also said that as a preventative measure, it has "increased security at the mine."
Currently, there is no nationwide travel advisory in effect for Burkina Faso. But the Canadian government does encourage people travelling to the area to "exercise a high degree of caution due to the evolving political situation and potential for future unrest."
The office of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada said there are nearly 500 Canadians in Burkina Faso, according to the Registration of Canadians Abroad. That number is likely higher since registration is voluntary.
For those travelling anywhere outside of Canada, Ottawa encourages registration on this website.