Burkina Faso announed they have cut ties with China's Taiwan and will close their embassy in Taipei on May 24, 2018. (Photo: Reuters) 

Johannesburg (People’s Daily) – Burkina Faso government officials declared on Thursday it had cut diplomatic ties with China’s Taiwan Province. 

In a two-minute statement, Burkina Foreign Affairs Minister Alpha Barry said, “The evolution of the world and the socio-economic challenges of our country and region push us to reconsider our position with Taiwan.”The announcement marks the official end of the West African nation’s 24-year diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.

"The government of Burkina Faso," said Barry, "decides today to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This decision is guided by the strong will of the government to defend the interests of Burkina Faso and its people in the concert of nations and to form the best partnership  to consolidate the economic and social developments of our country and to facilitate regional and sub-regional projects.”

Barry said that Burkina President Roch Koboré had asked him to make the necessary arrangements for the closures of both countries’ respective embassies in Taipei and Ouagadougou.

According to South African EWN news, Taiwan now has only one diplomatic ally in Africa, the small nation of Swaziland.