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The resumption of activities of the Russian embassy in Ouagadougou is a symbolic gesture of the country to have greater and stronger relations with Russia, analysts point out
Russia officially reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso recently, which closed its diplomatic relations way back in 1992. Russia is on a continuing trail to gravitate toward the Sahelian country that lies in the West of Africa, following its distancing from its ex-colonizer – France.
The resumption of activities of the Russian embassy in Ouagadougou is a symbolic gesture of the country to have greater and stronger relations with Russia, analysts point out. Russian ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire accredited to Burkina Faso, Alexeï Saltykov, was present at the opening ceremony of the chancellery. He would initially lead the diplomatic mission in Burkina.
Alexei Saltykov added that Russia would continue to assist Burkina Faso with the training of specialists, civil, and military executives, adding that his country would expand cooperation in the areas of trade and the economy. He hoped that the West African country could purchase from Russia, products including agricultural machinery, mineral fertilizers, equipment for the mining industry, etc. He also disclosed that 25,000 tonnes of wheat representing humanitarian aid from Russia were being transported to Burkina Faso. This, the Russian diplomat pointed out, was following the announcement by Vladimir Putin during the Saint Petersburg summit in July that Moscow would deliver cereals free of charge to six African countries, including Burkina Faso, in the coming months.
Since the coup d’état which brought Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power in September 2022, Burkina Faso has severed its relations with France and is seeking to diversify its partners. An agreement was signed by Russia and Burkina Faso in mid-October for the construction of a Russian nuclear power plant in Burkina, where less than a quarter of the population has access to electricity.
Burkina granted the operating permit for a new gold mine to the Russian company Nordgold, which already exploited three deposits in the north of the country. Burkina, where gold constitutes the main mineral resource, has been facing deadly and recurring jihadist violence for several years.
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Ouagadougou has also moved closer to Mali and Niger – two countries run by military regimes and linked to Burkina through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is a defence cooperation that stresses relations with Moscow.
