Cairo: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, Karamoko Jean Marie Traor, and Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation between the two nations. This announcement came during a meeting in Cairo on September 1, 2026, where the ministers emphasized collaboration in areas such as defense, security, economy, education, health, research, training, and culture.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Burkinabe Foreign Minister was on a friendly working visit to Egypt, which began on August 31, 2026. During the visit, ministerial talks were held at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by an expanded committee meeting with delegations from both countries. The discussions reviewed existing cooperation frameworks and explored new prospects for development.
In defense and security, both ministers underscored the importance of reinforcing their efforts to tackle terrorist threats affecting the continent's peace and stability. They advocated for a comprehensive approach to prevent terrorist financing and promote socio-economic development and the values of peace and tolerance. Minister Traor highlighted the need for countries to address the root causes of crises to foster peace.
On the economic front, the two countries expressed a keen interest in boosting their partnership through trade and investment initiatives. Notably, the first forum between Egyptian and Burkinabe businessmen was held in Burkina Faso in 2025, with a second edition organized during this Cairo visit. These forums underscore mutual interest in exploring investment opportunities.
Minister Traor emphasized the importance of increasing interactions between economic operators from both nations to enhance investments and implement concrete projects that contribute to Africa's economic landscape. He stressed the need for African countries to reclaim ownership of their resources, tools, and economic space, advocating for a shift away from external dependency.
Additionally, the discussions extended to cooperation in education, health, research, training, and capacity building. Both ministers expressed a shared desire to enhance cultural exchanges to strengthen ties between their peoples. Institutional discussions also focused on finalizing pending memoranda of understanding in various sectors.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Burkina Faso and Egypt reiterated their commitment to fostering genuine South-South cooperation grounded in mutual respect and shared interests. Minister Traor conveyed a message of friendship and solidarity from Burkina Faso's President, Captain Ibrahim Traor, to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, acknowledging his leadership in promoting peace in Africa and globally.