Burkina Faso Cuts Ties With Taiwan, Leaving It One Friend in Africa

China ties will better serve nation’s interests: minister
Swaziland remains the last African nation to keep Taiwan ties

A Taiwanese flag flies in front of buildings in Taipei, Taiwan, on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. In his meeting Saturday with outgoing Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, Chinese President Xi Jinping put the relationship across the Taiwan Strait in clear terms: Stick together, and prosper. Shake things up, and sink the peace.Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/

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By Simon Gongo and Miaojung Lin

May 24, 2018 at 11:17 AM UTC

Updated on

May 24, 2018 at 12:48 PM UTC

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Burkina Faso is ending relations with Taiwan in favor of China, leaving the self-governed island with only one diplomatic partner in Africa.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Alpha Barry announced the move Thursday to reporters in the capital, Ouagadougou, saying a relationship with China will better serve the West African nation’s interests.