Burkina Faso seeks to build a partnership with the European Union based on sincerity, mutual
respect, and sovereignty.
This was affirmed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Jean Marie Traore during discussions with European officials in Brussels.
On November 3 and 4, 2026, the Burkinabe foreign minister met with the EU Special Representative for the Sahel, Birgitte Nygaard Markussen, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas.
The talks focused on revitalising the partnership between the two parties, against a backdrop of tension – exacerbated, in part, by a European Parliament resolution concerning the security situation in Burkina Faso.
The European Union proposed a “renewed approach” toward Burkina Faso and the Sahel, expressing a willingness to strengthen political dialogue while taking shared interests into account.
In response, Karamoko Jean Marie Traore reaffirmed his country’s readiness to cooperate with any partners who respect its sovereignty and strategic choices.
“We want sincere discourse based on accurate facts, drawn from the reality on the ground,” he stated. He also criticised remarks made by French Member of the European Parliament Christophe Gomart, which he deemed disconnected from the realities in Burkina Faso.
Furthermore, the minister rejected the notion that Burkina Faso is isolated. He advocated for an interpretation of the Sahelian geopolitical context that is free from European-centric perceptions.
Both sides agreed to maintain the dialogue; however, Ouagadougou emphasised that such engagement must be conducted in a spirit of sincerity and openness.
Ho/Sf/fss/as/APA