Burkina-Faso: Olivia ROUAMBA, spearhead of a unique diplomacy

In Burkina, the dynamism and the ardour of a woman politician for diplomacy and cooperation weighed heavily in the choice of the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré in the formation of the new transitional government. Thus, Olivia Rouamba returned to Foreign Affairs, to the great relief of all those who worked with her in her diplomatic activities in a previous government.
Since her reappointment on 25 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, Olivia Rouamba, has immediately set about her task.
To the new Country Director and Representative of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ms Elvira PRUSCINI, who came three days later to present her letter of accreditation to Burkina to continue WFP’s interventions, Minister Olivia ROUAMBA expressed her warm congratulations and took the opportunity to thank the WFP and the entire United Nations system for their support to the efforts of the Burkinabe State in providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people and communities in the face of food and nutrition insecurity.
Four days later, Olivia Rouamba exchanged views with the German parliamentarian, Alexander Graf LamSDORFF, on the national situation.
The meeting with the member of the German parliamentary majority marked a turning point in the cooperation ties between the two countries.
The Burkinabe diplomat, Olivia Rouamba, welcomed the German MP’s visit to take the pulse of relations between Germany and the Land of Integral Men with a view to better orienting the commitment of Europe in general, and Berlin in particular, towards Burkina.
During the meeting, Mrs Olivia ROUAMBA did not skimp on her perspicacity and her skill which in fact mobilise her persuasive force.
She immediately reassured the Bunderstag emissary that the agenda of the Burkinabe transition had not changed at all despite the changes that took place on 30 September.
Reminding the MP of the consensus reached with ECOWAS, Minister Olivia Rouamba also specified that the commitments of the partners had been maintained.
« The African Union, ECOWAS and the United Nations have all reaffirmed their support. All our partners have maintained their commitment to Burkina, » she said.
Two days later, on 3 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, Olivia ROUAMBA received her certificate of assumption of office, although since her reappointment more than a week earlier, she had already begun to lay the foundations of a strong and inclusive diplomacy.
But very quickly, the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Ambassador Sandra CLARK who came to show the support of the United States.
However, Uncle Sam’s country decided to exclude Burkina Faso from the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) trade agreement.
From the exchanges that followed, this decision did not seem to dampen Olivia Rouamba’s spirits.
Rather, the decision was diplomatically welcomed as a new challenge.
« Burkina Faso takes good note of this decision by the American authorities, » she said simply, while telling Ambassador CLARK that « the Burkinabe government remains committed to its objectives.
The announcement of the exclusion of the Country of the Integral Men from the AGOA by the United States does not seem to shake the objectives of Minister Olivia ROUAMBA to continue in her winning dynamics.
« The challenges remain the same, the transition timetable has not changed and the country is relying on its own strengths to regain peace without ruling out any sincere support from its partners, » she said.
However, in terms of cooperation, the United States intends to continue bilateral interactions with Burkina.
A small consolation, however, against the backdrop of the eviction from AGOA, but Olivia Roumba did not stop there.
On the same day, November 3, she participated in a virtual meeting of the ECOWAS Commission for the adoption of two documents, the Action Plan for the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) 2023-2026 and the ECOWAS Standard Emergency Management System.
To this end, H.E. Karamoko Jean-Marie TRAORE welcomed the conclusions of this ministerial meeting which addresses the issue of refugees in Africa and particularly in Burkina Faso.
The Head of Diplomacy, following the ministerial meeting held in video conference, received the High Representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel.
Mr. Maman SIDIKOU informed Olivia ROUAMBA of an AU initiative aimed at a strong mobilisation of the African private sector in order to support through concrete actions the populations affected by the security crisis, particularly internally displaced persons.
The actions of the head of diplomacy are increasingly frantic in order to maintain the commitment of partners to the country.
In this, there is an unfailing admiration for the Burkinabe diplomat in her love of a job well done.
On 8 November, it was the turn of the Chinese ambassador, Lu HAN, to reassure Mrs. Olivia ROUAMBA that China remains committed to working further on the major concerns of both countries.
In turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivia Rouamba, made a strong appeal to China on the security front.
With Olivia Rouamba, bilateral cooperation has never been better.
From meeting to meeting, partnerships are renewed and strengthened one after the other.
The Arab Republic of Egypt entered the cooperation line through its ambassador, H.E. Ibrahim Abdalazim Pacha ELKHOUL, who also expressed his country’s commitment to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Egyptian diplomat announced the increase in the number of training scholarships offered to Burkinabe in various fields of development.
Later in the evening, the Head of the European Union delegation in Burkina Faso, Wolfram WETTER, also exchanged views with Mrs. Olivia ROUAMBA on the transition agenda.
The latter reassured the Head of the EU delegation that « Burkina Faso remains in the same dynamic agreed with ECOWAS ».
« The transition has only made changes in its tactical and technical orientations », she reassured.
This is the strength of Minister Olivia ROUAMBA who knows how to find the right words when needed.
In his speech, the European Union ambassador, who was very convinced, reaffirmed the availability of his institution to continue development aid and to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence and security.
This is good news for the Land of Integral Men, which can be proud of Olivia Rouamba’s singular patriotism.
Like Egypt, Cuba, through its ambassador Nadieska NAVARRO BARRO, came on 10 November to express her country’s gratitude to Burkina Faso for its support during the UN votes.
Minister Olivia Rouamba had pleaded for the lifting of the economic blockade on Cuba, which earned the Latin American country’s commitment to pursue frank cooperation with Burkina Faso.
From this brilliant diplomatic strategy of Olivia ROUAMBA, it is easy to understand that « Burkina Faso is at a stage where it needs more active solidarity from its partners and friends in the face of the phenomenon of terrorism ».
Minister Olivia Rouamba’s sociable and conciliatory nature leaves no political figure indifferent.
Moreover, it is obvious…
Having already a close collaboration with ECOWAS, Abdel Fatau MOUSSA, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the sub-regional organisation, came to meet the head of Burkina Faso’s diplomacy to reaffirm the commitment of ECOWAS to accompany Burkina Faso for the success of its transition.
In any case, the path to success is all mapped out for Olivia Rouamba’s diplomacy towards a better future for Burkina Faso.

Miss OLY