Burkina Faso and Burundi sign 14 bilateral cooperation agreements

Burkina Faso and Burundi have signed 14 bilateral cooperation agreements to strengthen ties across multiple strategic sectors. The agreements were finalized in Bujumbura during the first session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation.

The legal instruments cover a wide range of fields, including agriculture, livestock, security, civil protection, health, and transportation. Educational cooperation is also a priority, with agreements focusing on technical, professional, and higher education, as well as research.

Notable administrative and mobility advancements include the mutual recognition of national driving permits and the removal of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, service, and ordinary passports. Other areas of collaboration involve employment, social protection, youth, sports, and disaster risk management.

This partnership reflects a broader political effort by leaders to enhance South-South cooperation. Foreign Ministers Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré of Burkina Faso and Édouard Bizimana of Burundi signed the documents, marking a new phase in a relationship that has spanned nearly three decades.