Russia reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso, which had been closed for nearly 32 years. Burkina Faso and a Russian diplomat said that Vladimir Putin will appoint a new ambassador.
"Russia officially reopened its embassy in Ouagadougou on Thursday (December 28)," said a statement released by Burkina Faso***. ”
Russia closed its embassy in Burkina Faso, a West African country, in 1992. Russia's ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Alexei Saltykov, said Russia's Putin will appoint a new ambassador. He said that until the new ambassador took office, he would lead the Burkina Faso delegation, and he described Burkina Faso as "an old partner with whom we have strong and friendly relations".
Burkina Faso experienced two military coups last year, in part because of frustration with the failure to curb the rampant jihadist insurgency. Since coming to power in September 2022, the ruling army** has distanced itself from its historical partner and former suzerain, France, and moved closer to Russia.
In October, Burkina Faso signed an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear power plant to boost energy** in the Sahel country, where less than a quarter of the population has access to electricity.