OUAGADOUGOU - On the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Burkina Faso's Minister in charge of regional cooperation, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, engaged in critical discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Belgium, Tunisia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Latvia, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister Traoré met with his counterparts from these eight countries on September 23 and 24, 2024, to discuss various aspects of strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meetings are a strategic move to foster closer ties and mutual benefits through detailed and sector-specific dialogues.

With Tunisia, the discussions focused on evaluating progress made from past cooperation, which notably included the signing of eight agreements. The dialogue with Egypt was centered around reinforcing existing partnerships and identifying areas for intensified collaboration, especially in professional training.

In his talks with the representatives from Venezuela and Nicaragua, the emphasis was placed on establishing physical diplomatic presences and supporting each other in multilateral arenas. Minister Traoré expressed optimism about advancing Burkina Faso's relationship with the United Arab Emirates, highlighting a forthcoming meeting intended to explore shared interests further.

The engagement with Kyrgyzstan marked a significant outreach to new potential partners. Minister Traoré and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovich, agreed on setting up bilateral consultations aimed at fostering a mutually beneficial partnership, given their shared geographical and strategic characteristics.

Additionally, Minister Traoré met with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, advocating for a more accurate representation of the Sahel region's security issues in global forums. He detailed the progress made in combating terrorism, underscoring the pivotal role of local forces and community support in Burkina Faso.