“For us, the priority is not to appreciate one president or another, but it is to see what offer a president makes to your people“, Karamako Jean-Marie Traoré told AFP, on the sidelines of a Russia-Africa conference in Sochi (southwest). “And the offer that is made through cooperation with Russia is more suitable for the population” from Burkina Faso, he assured.
Russia is “a partner with whom we can walk“, he added, welcoming prospects for cooperation.”in a diversity of sectors of strategic interest“According to him, the Africans have left.”to rediscovery“of Russia and partnerships with Moscow can be associated with a”new hope that Burkinabè and Africans pursue within the framework of their sovereignty“.
Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power in Burkina Faso, following a coup d’état in September 2022, Ouagadougou has turned its back on France, a former colonial power and historic partner, to move closer in particular to Moscow.
For the head of diplomacy of Burkina Faso, however, it is not a question of “notation“given by Ouagadougou to Paris or Moscow.”The French and Africans talk to each other and know each other. (…) President (Russian Vladimir) Putin is a president that Africa respects“, he indicated. According to him, Russia, like Burkina Faso, has suffered for a long time.”photos constructed by other partners“.
While Russian military instructors are deployed in Burkina Faso, which has been facing jihadist violence for nearly ten years, Ougadougou assures that he does not fear possible military dependence on Moscow. “There is no room for fear, because we know what we want, where we want to go. And we know how we want to work with our new partners“, affirmed Mr. Traoré.
In addition to Russia, Burkina has moved closer to its two neighbors, Mali and Niger, also faced with jihadist attacks and also governed by military regimes that came to power through putsches. These three countries have announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which they accuse in particular of being subservient to Paris and of not supporting them enough in the fight against jihadists.
