Burkina Faso and Russia Conclude Five-Year Cooperation Deal on Higher Education and Science

Burkina Faso has entered into a five-year cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation aimed at strengthening collaboration in higher education and scientific research.

The agreement was signed by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Adjima Thiombiano, and Nataliia Krasovskaia, Executive Director of Russia’s Center for Public Diplomacy, according to an official statement from the Burkinabe ministry.

Under the framework of the partnership, both countries plan to deepen academic and scientific ties through the exchange of expertise, shared information, and the organization of joint initiatives in research and innovation.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Minister Thiombiano said the agreement reflects Burkina Faso’s commitment to positioning higher education and scientific research as key drivers of independence, cooperation, and national development.

He added that the partnership will support the organization of scientific activities such as conferences, seminars, forums, and roundtable discussions on areas of mutual interest within the higher education and research sectors.

Ms. Krasovskaia, for her part, described the agreement as a step toward building a durable partnership based on mutual respect, equality, and shared responsibility. She said the initiative is expected to strengthen academic and scientific connections between the two countries.

The ministry noted that this agreement follows the signing of six earlier cooperation accords between Burkinabe and Russian universities on February 25, 2025, further expanding educational ties between the two nations.