Burkina Faso is looking for opportunities to diversify cooperation with Russia in all areas and wants to establish a strategic partnership, said Prime Minister of the African country Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela on Tuesday.
"When we turned to Russia, we were told that Russia could offer nothing but weapons. Nothing more. We decided to see for ourselves. Therefore, we are looking for opportunities to diversify our relations in all areas. We want to establish a military, economic, and cultural strategic partnership," he said, speaking at the Burkina Faso Economic Days forum in Moscow.
He recalled that the country was previously a colony of France, but even after gaining independence, Ouagadougou was not satisfied with cooperation with the West.
"I can say that our history of interaction with the French and the West in general has not brought us satisfaction. Therefore, we decided to try a different path. We told ourselves that if there is a partner we want to turn to now, it is Russia," he said.
According to the PM, significant changes have recently occurred in Burkinabe society.
"In the capital of Burkina Faso, you can see Russian flags here and there. This indicates that our people have high expectations from strengthening cooperation with Russia," Kyelem de Tambela noted.