Burundi’s president and current Chair of the African Union (AU), Évariste Ndayishimiye, arrived in Ouagadougou on Monday, April 20, for what has been described as an “official friendship and working visit,” according to a statement from the Burkinabè presidency. The visit comes at a critical time, as relations between the African Union and Burkina Faso remain strained following the October 2022 coup.
Upon his arrival at Ouagadougou’s international airport, Ndayishimiye was welcomed by Burkina Faso’s transitional leader, Ibrahim Traoré, before proceeding to the presidential palace for talks.
While no details have yet been disclosed regarding the substance of their discussions, the Burkinabè presidency indicated that the AU Chair is also expected to visit key socio-economic infrastructure projects in the capital during his stay.
This meeting signals a renewed effort to establish direct dialogue between the African Union and Burkina Faso, a member of the Alliance of Sahel States. Since the military takeover in October 2022, Burkina Faso—alongside Mali and Niger—has seen its activities within the AU suspended.
Despite these tensions, communication channels have not been entirely severed. In February 2023, the then Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, visited Ouagadougou to explore pathways toward a return to constitutional order. More recently, in 2025, an AU envoy, Antonio Tete, carried out a listening and assessment mission in the country.
Following his appointment as AU Chair earlier this year, Ndayishimiye emphasized the importance of restoring constitutional governance in the Sahel region while maintaining engagement with transitional authorities to find lasting solutions.
Leave a comment