Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, has expressed his country's continued support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara during a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in New York. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Traoré stated that Burkina Faso's position on the Moroccanness of the Sahara has not changed.
Traoré reiterated Burkina Faso's support for Morocco's autonomy plan, which he said had received the endorsement of the United Nations. He confirmed that Ouagadougou would continue to support the plan. The two ministers also discussed King Mohammed VI's initiative to facilitate access to the Atlantic Ocean for landlocked Sahel countries. This initiative aims to connect these countries with Atlantic trade routes and strengthen regional economic integration.
The meeting between Bourita and Traoré covered the next steps for Morocco's initiative to give Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. Traoré welcomed the initiative and mentioned that task forces are now operating in the countries involved. He added that his talks with Bourita focused on the next steps the two countries would take together. This exchange highlights the continued cooperation between Morocco and Burkina Faso on regional issues.
Morocco and Burkina Faso have been expanding their bilateral cooperation in recent years. The two countries marked 60 years of diplomatic relations in December 2025 and held the fifth session of their joint commission. The meeting produced 14 agreements covering areas including agriculture, vocational training, trade, and security. A new roadmap for cooperation is expected to be implemented during 2026.
Moroccan Ambassador to Burkina Faso Youssef Slaoui said in March that the two countries planned to implement a new roadmap for cooperation during 2026. Burkina Faso and Morocco have maintained close coordination on regional issues, with bilateral relations described as excellent. The two countries have a convergence of views on regional, continental, and international issues.
The Atlantic initiative remains one of the main areas of cooperation between Morocco and the Sahel countries. Morocco has promoted the initiative as a way to connect landlocked states with Atlantic trade routes and strengthen regional economic integration. Burkina Faso has taken part in discussions on how to turn the initiative into concrete cooperation, including meetings involving the foreign ministers of Morocco, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad.
Traoré's comments in New York reaffirm Burkina Faso's position on the Sahara while placing the issue within a broader relationship that Rabat and Ouagadougou have continued to develop across political, economic, and regional cooperation. The two countries will continue to work together on regional issues, including the implementation of the Atlantic initiative and the autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
Key points
- Burkina Faso reaffirms its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
- Morocco and Burkina Faso discuss the next steps for the Atlantic initiative.
- The two countries continue to expand their bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
