Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt and Burkina Faso have agreed to deepen their bilateral cooperation across economic, security, and cultural spheres, as senior diplomats from both countries underscored the importance of closer coordination in addressing shared regional challenges.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a high-level telephone conversation on Thursday with his Burkinabe counterpart, Karamoko Traoré, focusing on a broad roadmap to strengthen ties between Cairo and Ouagadougou. The talks reflected Egypt’s growing engagement with West Africa and Burkina Faso’s strategic role in the Sahel at a time of heightened security and political uncertainty.
According to diplomatic sources, the discussions placed strong emphasis on expanding trade and investment relations, with Egypt expressing interest in creating a more favorable environment for its companies to operate in Burkina Faso. Abdelatty highlighted several priority sectors for cooperation, including infrastructure development, mining, energy, and healthcare, describing them as areas where Egyptian expertise and investment could support Burkina Faso’s development objectives while opening new markets for Egyptian firms.
Economic cooperation was framed as a cornerstone of a broader partnership aimed at long-term stability. Egyptian officials see increased commercial engagement as a means of fostering job creation and economic resilience in Burkina Faso, which has been grappling with the economic fallout of prolonged insecurity.
Security cooperation featured prominently in the exchange, reflecting Burkina Faso’s ongoing battle against jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for efforts to restore stability and strengthen state institutions, emphasizing Cairo’s readiness to continue providing technical assistance and capacity-building support.
He pointed to the role of the Egyptian Development Partnership Agency and the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding as key mechanisms for cooperation. These institutions offer training programs and expertise aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Burkinabe military, security, and civilian personnel, with a focus on counterterrorism, crisis management, and institutional resilience.
The ministers also discussed the role of cultural and religious diplomacy in confronting extremism. Abdelatty praised the contribution of Al-Azhar, Egypt’s leading Islamic institution, in promoting moderate religious discourse in Burkina Faso. Cooperation in this area includes Al-Azhar missions to the country, training programs for imams and preachers, and scholarships that allow Burkinabe students to pursue religious and academic studies in Cairo. Egyptian officials view these efforts as a critical component of broader strategies to counter radicalization and promote social cohesion.
The timing of the call carries added significance as Burkina Faso currently holds the rotating presidency of the Alliance of Sahel States, a regional bloc formed amid shifting alliances and security realignments in the region. Abdelatty congratulated Traoré on assuming the role, signaling Egypt’s intention to engage constructively with the alliance and remain an active partner in regional initiatives.
Both ministers concluded the discussion by reaffirming their commitment to sustained coordination on regional and continental issues within African and multilateral frameworks. The exchange underscored a shared view that closer cooperation between North and West Africa is increasingly essential to addressing the interconnected challenges of security, development, and stability across the Sahel and beyond.
