President Ma Ying-jeou says he is hopeful that elections scheduled for October will see a return to political stability in Burkina Faso. Ma was speaking Wednesday during a meeting with Chériff Sy, head of Burkina Faso’s National Transitional Council.
Burkina Faso is one of Taiwan’s three diplomatic allies in Africa. It was rocked by civil unrest last year which sent then-president Blaise Compaoré into exile after 27 years in power.
Ma said that Taiwan anticipates the return of democratic and constitutional government to Burkina Faso after October’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
"Burkina Faso will hold simultaneous elections for president and the National Assembly in October this year," said Ma. "We are extremely pleased to see the completion of these two elections under the leadership of Burkina Faso’s transitional government and Chairman Sy. They will write a new page in the development of Burkina Faso’s democracy."
Ma also told Sy that he hopes to see the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the future.