Russia re-opens embassy in Burkina Faso after nearly 32-year absence

Russia has re-opened its Embassy in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, nearly 32 years after shutting down the mission. This comes amid growing ties between the two countries.

Russia’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, Alexei Saltykov witnessed the ceremony alongside his host, Burkina Faso’s top diplomat, Karamoko Jean Marie Traore.

The Russian diplomat underscored the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations and stressed the need for continued efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations.

“The future ambassador accredited to Burkina Faso must work to make [bilateral relations] even better,” Saltykov said.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1967, but Russia closed its embassy in 1992, and Burkina Faso followed suit in 1996 by closing its mission in Moscow. The re-opening of the mission comes few weeks after the Russian Foreign ministry indicated that Moscow will open an embassy in Burkina Faso before year’s end and in Equatorial Guinea next year.

Ties between Russia and Burkina Faso have quickly skyrocketed under Captain Ibrahim Traore, the transitional leader of the African country, who came to power in a military coup in September 2022.

Traore tilted towards Russia at the expense of historical partner and former colonial power France.

Both Russia and Burkina Faso have inked various agreements including an agreement for the construction of a nuclear power plant to boost the country’s energy capacity.