* Russian Embassy to Burkina Faso opened after 30 years.
* The embassy had been closed in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet union and reduction in the cold war.
* Putin yet to name the Ambassador to lead the Russian envoy to Burkina Faso.
Russia re-opens Burkina Faso Embassy after it was shut for more than 30 years. Burkina Faso, a former ally of colonial power France has swiftly pivoted towards Russia since the military seized power in a coup in 2022 under Captain Ibrahim Traore.
The junta has expelled French diplomats and has shut down France's military base in the country and at the same time strengthening military and diplomatic ties with Russia after France had condemned the coup in Burkina Faso as well as the neighbouring Mali and Niger.
Russia president Vladimir Putin announced that there were plans underway to re-open the embassy last year in July during the Russia-Africa summit in St.
Petersburg in July. The embassy had been closed in 1992 as Moscow reduced its involvement in Africa following the end of the cold war and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet union.
The embassy was re-opened in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou as reported by Tass, a Russian state owned news agency. Russia has not yet named the head of the mission with Russia's ambassador to ivory coast pledging to head the mission until President Putin makes an appointment.
Russia under Putin has made a huge push in recent years to regain influence in Africa. Colonel Kassoum Koulibaly, the Burkina Faso defense Minister held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow last month with which the two military officials agreed to strengthen Burkina Faso's capabilities along with Mali and Niger who are battling Islamist insurgencies with the Mali junta under Colonel Assimi Goita calling upon Russian Wagner mercenaries to help fight the militants while expelling French troops.
