CLAIM: Burkina Faso Partners With Japan to Open A Motorbike Manufacturing Plant In Ouagadougou
There is circulating footage that the Burkinabe government has opened a motorbike manufacturing plant in the nation’s capital, Ouagadougiu.
Posted on March 13, 2025, by a verified handle @cecild84 on X, the claim says: “🇧🇫🇯🇵Burkina Faso opens a motorbike manufacturing plant in Ouagadougou,in partnership with Japan. This partnership will create jobs,position Burkina Faso as a regional giant for production and distribution of motorbikes,and further Burkina Faso’s industrialization goals.”
As of the time this report was published, the post had over 36,800 views. In the comment section, @PerfectGuyUg said “Some of these companies can be from the west and not from the countries they claim to be from.”, while @CollinsOpr7961 wrote “I love him. Young and with sincere concern for his people”.
VERIFICATION
A screenshot of different footage from the video shows that it has no link to the claim. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Olivia Rouaba, met (video footage 0:00-0:02) on June 26, 2023, with the Director General of the Africa Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, Naoki Yanase, the picture used in the footage was taken during this visit. It was reported that the reason for his visit was part of the Japanese government’s desire to further support Burkina Faso in the face of the multiple challenges it faces.
The footage used from 0:03 to 0:09 has been online since October 2019, the original video explains Honda’s 35-year monopoly in Brazil. While the footage from 1:20 to 1:25 has been online since December 2019, the original video showcases environmental standards for motorcycles.
Is There a Motorbike Manufacturing Plant Partnership Between Burkina Faso And Japan?
On June 25, 2024, Ambassador Nagashima met with Mr. Camile Wassom Ndessoko, the Director General of CFAO Motors Burkina, a Japanese firm. They discussed the company’s performance, including the sale of Japanese cars and motorcycles.
Then, President Ibrahim Traoré met with a delegation from the Ethiopian company Bejaiethio Industry and Engineering Solution on October 30, 2024. The discussions focused on expanding technical and vocational training for Burkinabe youth and advancing the country’s industrial capacity, including the potential to manufacture tools and machinery tailored to national needs.
While these developments indicate a growing interest in automotive and industrial sectors, there is no specific information regarding a motorbike manufacturing plant in Ouagadougou established in partnership with Japan.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the Burkinabe government has established a motorbike manufacturing plant in their nation’s capital, in partnership with Japan is FALSE as the different clips from the video reveal nothing related to the claim about a partnership to open a motorbike manufacturing plant in Ouagadougou.
