UN Human Rights Chief on official visit to Burkina Faso

GENEVA (20 March 2024) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk arrived late afternoon Wednesday in Burkina Faso’s capital city of Ouagadougou. The High Commissioner is scheduled to meet tomorrow with the President of the transition of Burkina Faso, H.E. Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

During his brief visit to the West African country, the High Commissioner will also hold discussions with the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He will also have meetings with civil society representatives, UN leaders and staff, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Türk is due to hold a brief press stakeout in Ouagadougou on Thursday afternoon. Details will be communicated to journalists in a local media advisory.

This is the first visit by High Commissioner Türk to Burkina Faso. Türk’s predecessor visited the country in November 2021.