The African Union (AU) has urged Burkinabè authorities to expedite the return to constitutional order by organizing elections and reopening the political space. The call came as the AU reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining dialogue with Ouagadougou while supporting the country in its fight against terrorism.

During a visit to Burkina Faso’s capital, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, met with Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and Foreign Affairs Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré. Notably, no meeting was held with the transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Following the discussions, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized that despite Burkina Faso’s suspension from AU political bodies following the coup, the organization remains dedicated to engaging with the transitional government. He also underscored the AU’s support for Burkina Faso’s counterterrorism efforts and its ongoing development programs.

The AU official stressed the urgency of advancing the political process, urging a restoration of political parties, reopening democratic space, and holding elections to restore constitutional order. He further advocated for closer collaboration between Burkina Faso and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which the country left in January 2025 alongside Mali and Niger to form the Sahel States Confederation (AES).

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called for strengthened cooperation among regional organizations to address shared challenges. In a statement, the AU reaffirmed its commitment to Burkina Faso’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, noting that the Burkinabè Prime Minister had reaffirmed his government’s support for the AU’s institutional reforms and financial autonomy goals.

This visit was part of a regional tour by the AU Commission Chairperson, who previously met with Malian transitional authorities.