Iran ‘ready to share its expertise' in security with Burkina Faso: Envoy

]By Oumar Sankare

BAMAKO, Mali (AA) - Iran expressed interest in boosting relations with Burkina Faso by sharing “experiences,” including in security, with the West African nation, a statement said Wednesday.

Mojtaba Faghihi, Tehran’s top diplomat in Ouagadougou, said Iran is “ready to share its expertise with Burkina in the field of security, health or economy.”

The ambassador made the comments during a meeting with Burkina Faso’s Economy Minister Aboubacar Nacanabo, according to the statement from the ministry.

Faghihi said Iran will set up a pharmaceutical production unit in Burkina Faso and other production units.

He congratulated Nacanabo for the establishment of the Burkina Faso Treasury Deposit Bank and asked the regime to facilitate exchanges between Burkinabe and Iranian banks, in addition to supporting investors.

Nacanabo reiterated his government’s “readiness to cooperate with Iran in all areas of interest to Burkina Faso.”

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are three junta-ruled nations that formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) earlier this year and announced the creation of a joint military force to counter spiraling security challenges posed in their countries by terror groups.

The three West African nations withdrew last year from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had threatened to intervene militarily in Niger following a coup in that country last July.

Of late, the three member nations of the AES have grown closer with Russia, which has closer ties with Iran, and they have criticized Ukraine.

Last month, Niger put an “immediate” end to diplomatic relations with Ukraine because of Kyiv’s alleged support of Malian “terrorist groups.”​​​​​​​