Ouagadougou: The Burkinabe government has announced an immediate suspension on the importation of flour, including infant flour, couscous, and semolina across the country until further notice. This measure is aimed at supporting national production, as revealed in a joint statement signed by multiple government ministers.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the statement was signed on Thursday, July 30, 2026, by the ministers responsible for Trade, Agriculture, Health, and Economy and Finance. The directive took effect immediately upon signature, and its primary objective is to facilitate the sale and consumption of locally produced goods.

The government has provided a grace period for economic operators who initiated import processes prior to the announcement. These operators have a two-month window, starting from July 30th, to finalize their import formalities. This allowance is intended to ease the transition and mitigate potential disruptions in supply chains.

To ensure compliance with this suspension, the government is enlisting the cooperation of various stakeholders, including state technical services, border control services, and security forces. The statement explicitly warns that any violations of this suspension will incur sanctions as per existing regulations.

Citizens are encouraged to report any instances of non-compliance to the authorities. The government has provided contact numbers for the public to report violations, demonstrating its commitment to enforcing this new policy effectively.