Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso has proposed a bilateral session with Nigeria to review cooperation and explore new areas of partnership, aiming to reset ties between the two West African nations. This initiative was announced as Nigeria’s new Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. Syndoph Endoni, presented his Letter of Credence in Ouagadougou.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Burkinabe Foreign Minister, Jean-Marie Traor©, warmly received Ambassador Endoni and expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to strengthen the longstanding relations between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Traor© emphasized the shared African heritage, historical connections, and common challenges that unite both countries. He pledged to work closely with Ambassador Endoni to maintain and deepen these relations.
The proposed bilateral session promises to provide both Abuja and Ouagadougou with a platform to transform recent diplomatic tensions into renewed engagements focusing on security, mutual respect, and regional stability. This proposal comes in the wake of diplomatic differences between Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
In response, Ambassador Endoni conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s gratitude to Burkina Faso’s President and Head of State, Capt. Ibrahim Traor©, for accepting his accreditation. He expressed appreciation for the warm reception he received in Ouagadougou and committed to collaborating with the foreign minister on mutual concerns and joint solutions to shared challenges.
Ambassador Endoni advocated for greater African solidarity and confidence among countries in resolving differences, emphasizing the importance of internal resolutions. He expressed his readiness to strengthen Nigeria-Burkina Faso relations ‘in a spirit of brotherhood’ and to promote constructive engagement between the two governments.
The formal withdrawal of the EAS countries from ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, has led to increased cooperation among Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger under the AES framework, while ECOWAS continues to explore future engagement modalities. Despite these changes, Nigeria remains a leading ECOWAS member, and Burkina Faso has been aligning its foreign and security policies with its AES partners.
President Tinubu’s approval of Endoni’s posting to Ouagadougou is part of the broader deployment of Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassadors to foreign missions. Endoni, a career diplomat, previously served as Charg© d’Affaires at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York prior to his ambassadorial role.
The presentation of the Letter of Credence to the foreign minister is a customary diplomatic protocol that precedes the formal presentation of credentials to the Burkinabe Head of State. Ambassador Endoni is expected to present his Letter of Credence formally to Capt. Traor© as he settles into his new role in Ouagadougou.