Russia has reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso after closing it for around 32 years.

This development was confirmed by Burkinabe foreign ministry in a statement that “Russia formally reopened its embassy this Thursday in Ouagadougou.”

Russia’s ambassador to Ivory Coast, Alexei Saltykov, said he would head the mission in Burkina Faso until the new ambassador is appointed and described Burkina Faso as “an old partner with whom we have solid and friendly ties.

He said: “Despite our physical absence here, bilateral cooperation in the political and economic fields has never ceased.”

Burkina Faso has encountered military coups in the last year both triggered in part by discontent at failures to stem an insurgency. 

Since coming to power in September 2022, the ruling junta has separated itself from France, its historic partner, and embraced Russia. 

Burkina Faso signed a deal with Russia for the construction of a nuclear power plant to increase the energy supply to the Sahel country where less than a quarter of the population has access to electricity in October.