Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Kabura, met with Maulvi Fazl Mohammad Haqqani, Afghanistan’s acting ambassador, in Tehran to discuss expanding cooperation between the two nations. This meeting is part of Burkina Faso’s efforts to diversify its trade and diplomatic relations.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy, the discussions centered on strengthening ties in key sectors such as trade, agriculture, mining, and vocational training. Both sides agreed to facilitate visits by private sector delegations to further enhance trade relations between Burkina Faso and Afghanistan.
This diplomatic encounter follows a visit to Niger by the Commander General of Iran’s law enforcement and security forces. During that visit, new areas of cooperation, including training programs for the Niger Police and National Guard, were announced, with some training set to occur at the Iranian Police University.
Burkina Faso, a country struggling with a growing militant insurgency, has increasingly looked beyond its traditional Western allies. The nation, alongside Mali and Niger, withdrew from the regional bloc ECOWAS in 2023 and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a shift toward new international partners, including Russia.
Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, highlighted that these countries are seeking alternatives to Western support as they confront security challenges. “They want to rely less on Western companies and focus more on their so-called new partners,” Laessing stated.
In line with this shift, Iran has been working to boost its ties with the AES countries, including providing aid to Burkina Faso, with a shipment recently arriving in Ouagadougou.