Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is set to meet with Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations.
The 48-hour visit marks Mr Sonko’s first official trip to Ouagadougou since taking office. He is accompanied by key cabinet members, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Yassine Fall, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Birame Diop, and the Minister of Sports, Khady Diène Gaye.
During the visit, Mr Sonko will attend the official inauguration of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, scheduled for Saturday, 17 May. He is also expected to meet with members of the Senegalese community residing in Burkina Faso.
This visit comes amid significant regional shifts, particularly the withdrawal of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) from ECOWAS earlier this year. In October 2024, Mr Sonko visited Mali and declared that Senegal would not serve as a base for destabilising its neighbours.
Meanwhile, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to mediating between the AES bloc and ECOWAS, while respecting the sovereignty of each nation.
