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Burkina Faso Says Russia Partnership 'Suits' Better Than France


Burkina Faso interim leader Ibrahim Traore (left) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit in Russia last year.
Burkina Faso interim leader Ibrahim Traore (left) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit in Russia last year.

Burkina Faso's foreign minister praised cooperation with Russia on November 9 as "suiting" his country better than its historic ties with France. Following a 2022 military coup, Burkina Faso's new leadership broke with Paris and has embraced Russia, which has sent army instructors to help Ouagadougou's fight against an Islamist insurgency. Attending a Russia-Africa summit in the southern Russian city of Sochi, Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore said Russia was a "partner with whom we can make progress" and that there was "no fear" of becoming militarily dependent on Moscow.

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