President Compaoré, who has been in power since 1987, has been facing significant and unprecedented unrest over the past several months. Burkina Faso's low degree of economic development, narrow economic base, large structural fiscal imbalance, and weak external position constrain the ratings. However, we believe that Burkina Faso's track record of donor backing, multilateral assistance, and moderate, though growing, fiscal debt burden continue to support the credit ratings. We are therefore affirming the 'B/B' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Burkina Faso. The stable outlook balances external and political vulnerabilities against strong donor support. LONDON (Standard&Poor's) May 27, 2011--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it affirmed its 'B/B' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on
