Burkina Faso: What to know about President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s visit to Ouagadougou

The President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, concluded a friendship and working visit to Ouagadougou on Thursday evening, where he met with his Burkinabe counterpart, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. This visit is part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting regional cooperation between the two countries.

During his stay, President Faye had a one-on-one meeting with Captain Traoré at the Koulouba Palace. The discussions covered various topics of common interest, with a particular focus on the relations between ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) countries, which recently announced their departure from the sub-regional institution.

President Faye expressed his willingness to work towards maintaining and strengthening communication channels between ECOWAS and the AES countries. He emphasized the importance of keeping dialogue spaces open, even when doors seem closed. We must not shut the windows and draw the curtains; we must leave spaces open (…) We can argue if necessary, but we must express what is within us “, he said.

This statement underscores President Faye’s commitment to finding  common ground “ between the two regional blocs, in order to resolve tensions and promote cooperation.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s friendship and working visit to Ouagadougou marks an important step in strengthening relations between Senegal and Burkina Faso. By emphasizing the need to maintain dialogue spaces within ECOWAS and with the AES countries, President Faye demonstrates his determination to work towards regional stability and cooperation.

Sadia Nyaoré