Another African nation interested in joining BRICS

Membership presents an opportunity to challenge the dominance of the dollar and euro, the Burkinabe prime minister says

Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela has expressed an interest in joining BRICS.

Membership of the group would make it possible to challenge the “domination of the dollar and the euro,” and to achieve “fairer trade relations on the international stage,” he said at a meeting with Russian Ambassador Igor Martynov in Ouagadougou on Monday.

Following the meeting, the government of the West African republic published a post on Facebook, confirming that Kyelem de Tambela had “argued for Burkina Faso’s joining the integration of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).”

Martynov discussed proposals for Russia to develop a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso. “The meeting was very fruitful and successful. We are in tune regarding our approaches to bilateral cooperation. We also dwelled on intensifying our cooperation in all areas,” he said.

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In June 2023, the Burkinabe government and the BRICS group signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation. The document defines areas of cooperation, which include the economy, health, education, infrastructure, air and rail transport, industry, commerce, mines, energy, sport, culture, information and communication technologies, and tourism.

BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. The group expanded this year when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates became full members.

On September 2, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Türkiye had officially applied to join BRICS, citing “the need for cooperation with developing countries.”

In June, the Zimbabwean Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri announced that the country was ready to join the BRICS group of nations.

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Several other countries have also officially signaled their intention to join the organization. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said that one of the key criteria for Moscow to welcome new members is that any country seeking to join BRICS refrains from participating in illegal unilateral sanctions.