Ouagadougou: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ou©draogo met with Leonardo Santos Simo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. This meeting was held to allow the UN envoy to gain insights into the current situation in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simo, is visiting Burkina Faso from May 21 to 24, 2025. The purpose of his visit is to understand the recent developments in the country and explore how the United Nations can assist in enhancing the living conditions of its population.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister updated Simo on the political, economic, social, and security status of Burkina Faso, as well as the vision held by its authorities. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for the United Nations to advocate for nations battling for their sovereignty. He urged the UN to address the influence of certain powerful countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism in the Sahel. The Prime Minister expressed the Burkinabe stance on the terminology used by international organizations concerning the security situation, insisting that terms should not legitimize terrorist actions.
Simo acknowledged the economic efforts being made, particularly in agriculture and other sectors, to improve the lives of the citizens and facilitate the return of those displaced by terrorism. He noted the challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated terrorism, which even involves the use of children, and stressed the necessity of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
In response to the situation, the Special Representative expressed the United Nations' commitment to continue supporting Burkina Faso. He mentioned his plan to compile the information gathered into reports for the UN system and emphasized the intention to continue advocacy efforts to mobilize increased support for Burkina Faso.