APA-Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) – This is the Senegalese president’s first trip to countries making up the alliance of Sahel states.
On Thursday 30 May 2024, Bassirou Diomaye Faye will visit Bamako and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, according to a press release issued on Wednesday by the Senegalese Presidency.
The day before, the Burkina News Agency, (AIB) had announced the Senegalese head of state’s trip to
Ouagadougou, stating that it would be a “friendship and working visit” during which the Senegalese president would exchange views with his Burkinabe counterpart.
“President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, will discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and subjects of common interest,” AIB added.
According to the Senegalese Presidency, “these visits are part of a drive to strengthen the historic ties of good neighbourliness, fraternal friendship, solidarity and multifaceted cooperation.”
Democratically elected in the first round on 24 March, this is Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s first official visit to two of the three member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which broke away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Created in September 2023, the AES comprises Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
During his visit to Nigeria in mid-May 2024, President Bola Tinubu urged his Senegalese counterpart to “bring home” “brotherly” West African countries affected by unconstitutional change of government.
Nigeria was referring to Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, countries ruled by the military, which in January announced they were quitting the bloc.
DS/ac/fss/as/APA