The foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, and the trade and development minister, Mogens Jensen, recently met with ministers from Burkina Faso to discuss the country's situation ahead of its presidential and parliamentary elections in October.
Lidegaard spoke to both the west African nation's deputy foreign minister and the minister for equality, who are part of a transitional government that assumed the reins following the ousting of Blaise Compaore, whose 27-year reign as president ended late last year.
”We discussed the political development in Burkina Faso, which will be essential for the country’s democracy in the future,” Lidegaard said. ”We also talked about violent extremism and fighting terror in the fragile Sahel region.”
”Burkina Faso plays an important part in promoting stability in the region and we agreed to strengthen our partnership to fight radicalisation. Finally, I was pleased to discuss climate efforts.”
READ MORE: Development minister monitoring situation in Burkina Faso
Looking ahead
Lidegaard underlined that in order to reach an ambitious climate agreement, it was critical to strengthen partnerships between Denmark and developing nations such as Burkina Faso.
Jensen, on the other hand, discussed development co-operation and questions involving equality and sexual health and rights.
”I've emphasised Denmark's support to the transitional government's efforts to hold free and just elections in October,” Jensen said.
”Burkina Faso handled the crisis in the autumn of 2014 with great responsibility. Now it will be important for the country to promote democracy, stability and development.”
