Phnom penh: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Daouda Bitie, presented his credentials to the President of the Senate and Acting President of the Kingdom, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, on Thursday, 4 September 2025. He conveyed the fraternal greetings of His Excellency Comrade Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, President of Faso, and expressed the wish to strengthen the Ouagadougou-Phnom Penh cooperation axis.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mr. Bitie recalled that the diplomatic relations established in 2010 between Burkina Faso and the Kingdom of Cambodia have remained at half-mast since then. Mandated by the Head of State, he expressed his commitment to reviving this cooperation, as the two countries share a common colonial past and similar aspirations.
The Ambassador conveyed a message of admiration from the Burkinabe people towards the people of Cambodia, whose struggles for independence and resistance to the Khmer Rouge serve as an inspiration for Burkina Faso in its fight against terrorism. He expressed the President of Burkina Faso's desire to see cooperation between the two nations flourish through regular political and diplomatic exchanges for mutual benefit.
In response, the President of the Senate praised Burkina Faso's approach, highlighting the dynamism and leadership of President Captain Ibrahim TRAORE. He drew parallels to 1983, when he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, recalling Captain Thomas Sankara's leadership and the renaming of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso.
Samdech Hun Sen advocated for a framework for political consultation between the foreign ministries of the two countries. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation, encouraging delegation exchanges, and ensuring mutual support in international forums. He also instructed the government representative to work towards accrediting a Cambodian ambassador to Burkina Faso.
During the meeting, the Senate President shared insights from his four decades of public management experience, stressing the importance of institutional stability and public trust over simply labeling democracy. He advocated for an endogenous development model based on local investments and recommended caution regarding external partnerships.
The audience concluded with Ambassador Bitie assured of a mission accomplished for dynamic cooperation between Burkina Faso and Cambodia. During his stay, Mr. Bitie held working sessions with several Cambodian ministerial departments and institutions, including Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Trade, and the National Institute of Diplomatic Studies and International Relations.