Next week, the Grand Duchy initially planned to sign a new cooperation agreement with Burkina Faso. Following the military coup, the Luxembourgish side has decided to suspend its signature for the time being.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn and Minister for Development Cooperation Franz Fayot stated that they remain “in permanent contact” with the Luxembourgish embassy in Ouagadougou, which remains operational. The embassy in Burkina Faso employs around half a dozen people. The ministers made these statements in response to a parliamentary question by MPs Stéphanie Empain and Djuna Bernard from the Green Party (Déi Gréng).
For over 25 years, the Luxembourgish government and several NGOs have been active in the area of development cooperation in Burkina Faso. Following the military coup, Burkina Faso’s membership with the African Union has also been suspended.
Prior to the putsch by the military junta, revolts had broken out in several military barracks. Over the past six years, terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso have claimed the lives of around 2,000 victims.
Burkina Faso’s president was deposed – Roch Marc Christian Kaboré is currently under house arrest.
After the French ambassador was expelled from Mali, where the military has also taken over, the French government is reconsidering the presence of military troops in the Sahel region. A complete retreat from Mali is not being excluded.
