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Burkina Faso has highlighted its inclusive approach to diaspora engagement at the inaugural International Diaspora Forum held in Bamako, Mali, from 17 to 19 July 2025.
Leading the Burkinabè delegation, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabè Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, joined representatives from other member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to discuss strategies for harnessing the diaspora as a key driver of national development.
Held under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities for a Diaspora at the Heart of National Economic Development,” the forum served as a platform for open dialogue with diaspora communities.
Organisers underscored the need to reframe narratives around migration and to reposition the diaspora as a valuable asset, both abroad and at home.
“Our diaspora is a pool of talent, a safe haven, and a pillar of our sovereignty,” said Traoré. He shared Burkina Faso’s experience in organizing and mobilising its diaspora and outlined the policies that have facilitated their investment in national development.
He stressed the importance of transforming perceptions around migration, particularly in host countries, and promoting a discourse that recognizes diaspora communities as agents of change and development.
“It is essential to continue reshaping how we view our diaspora and to amplify the narrative of transformation in host nations, where the diaspora can be a force of influence,” Traoré stated.
The forum, opened by Mali’s Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga on behalf of the President of the Transition, addressed the productive use of remittances and diaspora expertise. Maïga emphasised the need to channel financial transfers into sustainable investments.
Discussions spanned two ministerial roundtables and eight thematic panels, covering topics such as women’s entrepreneurship in the diaspora, digital public services, financial and non-financial tools to support diaspora investment, and case studies of successful diaspora-led ventures.
The event concluded with a series of key recommendations, including the regionalisation of the forum and the promotion of cross-border investments among AES countries.
Delegations from AES member states, Guinea, and the Kingdom of Morocco were present.
