On Friday 5 June 2026, foreign minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, accompanied by delegated minister Bêbgnasgnan Stella Eldine Kabre/Kabore, received the new head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) office in Burkina Faso, Dr Anselme Siméon Sanou. The meeting allowed Dr Sanou to outline his mandate’s priorities and request the foreign affairs department’s support for successfully implementing UNODC programmes and projects.

Dr Sanou stated that the key priorities identified by UNODC align closely with the government’s main objectives in combating organised crime, drug trafficking and consumption, arms trafficking, and terrorism, among others.

During the discussions, the UNODC chief reaffirmed his office’s readiness and commitment to backing the efforts of the burkinabè government. The foreign minister congratulated his compatriot on being appointed to lead UNODC in Burkina Faso.

Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré noted that having a profile familiar with the local terrain and context enhances the effectiveness of interventions. While encouraging him to collaborate with voluntary organisations and institutional stakeholders, the head of burkinabè diplomacy expressed his department’s willingness to work alongside UNODC to address security and peace challenges in Burkina Faso.