On behalf of the American people and President Obama, I congratulate the people of Burkina Faso on the 54th anniversary of your independence.

The United States is dedicated to supporting Burkina Faso’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, expand economic opportunities, and maintain regional security. We welcome the establishment of the civilian-led transitional government. It is important that preparations begin now to ensure that the national elections scheduled for November 2015 are successful. We look forward to working closely with the transitional government, the electoral commission, and civil society to support this important election.

The United States is committed to building on the strong bond between our two countries and creating peace and prosperity for all the people of Burkina Faso.