The Federal Republic of Germany and Burkina Faso have maintained diplomatic relations since the latter’s independence in 1960. Its last elected President, Roch Marc Kaboré, travelled twice to Germany in 2019, while then-Federal Chancellor Merkel visited Burkina Faso in May of that year. The current military-led government has been in power since September 2022. There has been close development cooperation between the two countries since 1961, primarily involving direct support for the people of Burkina Faso in areas such as promoting agriculture and food security as well as water and sanitation. Furthermore, Germany plays a major role in humanitarian assistance for groups in need. The focus here is on food security, humanitarian protective measures especially for women and children, and healthcare.

There is considerable interest in learning German as a foreign language in Burkina Faso. The Goethe-Institut reports rising demand for language courses and exams. German is firmly established in secondary education, with around 120,000 pupils being taught by just under 1000 German teachers. Three grammar schools in Burkina Faso are part of the Schools: Partners for the Future (PASCH) initiative. There are also around 4000 students enrolled in German Studies at the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo. Promotion of the German language has been coordinated by the Goethe-Institut in Ouagadougou since 2022. As the only German cultural institute in the Sahel and the only European cultural institute in Burkina Faso, it plays a key role in bilateral cultural relations. Meanwhile, the Embassy carries out small-scale projects together with local German teachers and German club leaders every year to promote the German language. There are also regular presentations about opportunities for training and studying in Germany.

In the field of scientific cooperation, the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), supported by the German Government, is particularly noteworthy. It is making a significant contribution to basic research on the impact of climate change on the Sahel region. There are also exchange and cooperation arrangements in place between universities in Burkina Faso and Germany.