Burkina Faso leader gets BRICS Medal for fighting for country’s sovereignty

The transitional President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, announced Tuesday, he was awarded the BRICS Medal for his determination and courage in the interest of the West African country’s sovereignty.

The award was presented by Larissa Zelentsova, the President of the International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects.

The Russian BRICS boss, who was in Ouagadougou to open a representative office of the bloc, said the bloc represents the link between BRICS member countries and non-member countries.

Traore and Zelentsova discussed BRICS cooperation and support for Burkina Faso.

Traore came to power late September in a coup that toppled interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

He turned to Russia, Turkey and North Korea for military support in the fight against terrorism that has gripped the West African country for several years now. Ouagadougou has terminated defense cooperation agreements with former colonial power, France.