Burkina Faso and Türkiye signaled their intention to finalize a formal defense and security pact following their inaugural political consultations held in Ankara on October 20, 2026.
Led by Ambassador Hermann Yirigouin Toé, Secretary-General of Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Volkan Isikci, Türkiye’s Director General for West and Central Africa, the diplomatic delegations reviewed mechanisms to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation, elevate bilateral trade, and expand technical partnerships across key industrial and social sectors.
During the security discussions, the Burkinabe delegation briefed Turkish officials on regional security developments in the Sahel, specifically emphasizing the strategic framework of the newly established Confederation of Sahel States alongside Mali and Niger. Highlighting the need for tangible international solidarity against regional insurgency, Ambassador Toé urged Ankara to expand security partnerships across the AES bloc. In response, Ambassador Isikci reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Burkina Faso’s territorial integrity and sovereign defense efforts, expressing strong interest in concluding a formal defense agreement while reviewing existing bilateral framework agreements between their respective diplomatic institutes.
Beyond military cooperation, the consultations addressed institutional collaboration in health, agriculture, energy, and vocational education. Ambassador Toé highlighted ongoing Turkish support in specialized medical training, particularly kidney transplantation, while advocating for an expedited medical visa channel for Burkinabe patients as part of Ouagadougou’s broader initiative to upgrade domestic healthcare infrastructure and minimize overseas medical evacuations. Both nations agreed to leverage Turkish technical expertise to boost bilateral trade ahead of the fourth Joint Commission for Cooperation session, slated to take place in Ouagadougou in 2027.
HO/ac/lb/abj/APA