Burkina Faso re-establishes ties with North Korea, purchase of military equipment in sight

Olivia Roumba, Burkina Faso’s top diplomat announced Wednesday the resumption of diplomat ties with North Korea as Ouagadougou seeks Pyongyang’s military support in order to address insecurity at home caused by terrorist groups.

“This resumption of diplomatic relations with North Korea will enable this East Asian country and Burkina Faso to maintain exemplary bilateral cooperation in several areas such as the security sector, through the granting to our country military equipment and materials, mining, health, agriculture and research sectors,” she said after a cabinet meeting.

The meeting also greenlighted the appointment of ambassador to Pyongyang.

Burkina Faso officially severed ties with the Asian country in 2017 on the grounds that it was a recommendation of the United Nations to all member countries as part of sanctions on Pyongyang.

Rouamba speaking about ties between the two countries, argued that Burkina Faso once maintained “very good relations with this country which was a privileged partner during the period of the August 1983 Revolution”.

The West African country has been grappling with insecurity caused by terrorists and has lost 40 per cent of its territory to the terror groups. In power since September 2022 following a coup, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has vowed to improve the logistics of the army in face of terrorists who seemed better equipped than the country’s own forces.