The African Union (AU) has called on Burkina Faso’s leadership to expedite the restoration of constitutional order by holding elections and reopening the political space, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining dialogue with Ouagadougou and supporting the country in its fight against terrorism.
During an official visit to the Burkinabè capital, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, held discussions with Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré. Notably, no meeting took place with the transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Following these discussions, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized that despite Burkina Faso’s suspension from AU political bodies following last year’s coup, the organization remains dedicated to engaging with the transitional authorities. He underscored the AU’s continued backing for Burkina Faso’s counterterrorism efforts and its commitment to ongoing development programs in the country.
The AU official stressed the urgent need for progress in the political transition, highlighting the restoration of political parties, reopening democratic spaces, and organizing elections to restore constitutional governance. He also advocated for a stronger partnership between Burkina Faso and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), from which the country withdrew in early 2025 alongside Mali and Niger to form the Sahel States Confederation (AES). Youssouf urged enhanced cooperation among regional bodies to tackle shared challenges.
In an official statement, the AU reaffirmed its support for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. The statement also noted that the Burkinabè Prime Minister had reaffirmed his government’s commitment to institutional reforms within the AU and to strengthening the organization’s financial autonomy.
This visit was part of the AU Commission Chairperson’s regional tour, which previously included Mali, where he met with transitional authorities.
