After nearly 32 years, Russia reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso on Thursday, after the West African country’s breakup with erstwhile colonial power France.
According to a statement from the Burkinabe foreign ministry, “Russia formally reopened its embassy this Thursday in Ouagadougou.”
Until a new ambassador is chosen, Alexei Saltykov, the Russian ambassador to the Ivory Coast, will lead the mission in Burkina Faso. He called Burkina Faso “an old partner with whom we have solid and friendly ties.”
“Despite our physical absence here, bilateral cooperation in the political and economic fields have never ceased,” he said.
The establishment of the embassy, according to the Russian foreign ministry, will “increase coordination in terms of foreign policy” and “solidify the friendship” between the two nations.
Two military takeovers occurred in Burkina Faso last year; both were partially brought on by frustration with the lack of progress made in quelling a jihadist insurgency.
The ruling junta has been more allied with Russia and less with France, its longtime ally, after seizing power in September 2022.
One of the poorest countries in the world, Russia has promised to provide free grain to the African nation.
Since its attack in Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly isolated, and in recent months, it has talked of increasing military ties with Burkina Faso.
Less than 25% of the population in Burkina Faso, a country in the Sahel, lacks access to electricity. The government and Russia inked an agreement in October to build a nuclear power plant.