APA-Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) Since Captain Ibrahim Traore took power in September 2022, Ouagadougou and Moscow have grown closer.
As part of its diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, Burkina Faso officially appointed a new diplomatic representative on Wednesday December 6. The transitional authorities have chosen a rural engineer as their permanent diplomat in Moscow.
“Aristide Rapougdoudba Ludovic Tapsoba, a top engineer in rural development has been appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso to the Russian Federation,” the Council of Ministers of Wednesday December 06, 2023 reports.
Alongside Captain Ibrahim Traore, Officer Yasnemanegre Sawadogo has been appointed Defense Attaché to the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Russia.
Burkina Faso thus intends to consolidate its diplomatic relations and strengthen its presence in Russia.
Since Captain Traore’s seized power in September 2022, Ouagadougou and Moscow have grown closer, through the intermediary of Bamako.
Official missions have visited both countries, to discuss areas of cooperation.
In mid-October, Ouagadougou and Moscow signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso by 2030.
Russia has begun the free grain deliveries promised by President Vladimir Putin to several African countries, including Burkina Faso, which will receive 25,000 tonnes in December.
On the military front, the two countries have signed several partnership agreements covering the delivery of weapons, the training of Burkina Faso soldiers and internships for Burkina Faso military personnel in Russia.
In April 2023, Foreign Affairs Minister Olivia Rouamba reassured Burkina Faso that “Russia is a reliable partner.”
SD/ac/fss/as/APA