Top diplomats from three west African countries ruled by military authorities following a coup-namely Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso-met Thursday (Feb 09) in Ouagadougou the Burkinabe government enunciated.
The meeting comes some weeks after Burkina Faso’s high minister, in a visit to neighbouring Mali on early February, suggested the two countries form a” federation to boost their economic influence.
After their working session Abdoulaye Diop (Mali), Morissanda Kouyaté (Guinea) and Olivia Rouamba (Burkina), are hoped to address the press according to the Burkinabe Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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This is the first time I’ve arrived in Burkina Faso since the struggle of the Burkinabe that led to a rectification to be suitable to recover the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this fraternal country,” Abdoulaye Diop said upon appearance. ”
Together, we will make a statement to regional organizations, so that we can hear further aloud the claims and requests of our people through our governments and our leaders,”said Mrs. Morissanda Kouyaté.
Two days ago, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov visited Mali, promising his help” to the Sahel- Saharan region and even to the countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea.
West Africa has suffered since 2020 a series of coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, and the unsteadiness of the Sahel afflicted by jihadist violence despite the deployment of international manpowers has made the bed of Russian presence.
After Mali, Burkina Faso, also targetted by jihadist violence, demanded the departure of French manpowers from its habitat, without considering breaking diplomatic relations with France, the former colonial power in the area.
The new governance that surfaced from the September 30, 2022 coupd’état executed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the second in eight months, expounded their desire to diversify their partnerships.
We really want to look at other skylines, because we want win-win partnerships,” Traore said last week, adding, If we can not go to buy military equipment in one country, we’ll go to other countries to buy it.
According to the West, mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner are stationed in Mali, which Bamako denies, admitting only the presence of Russian instructors.
The Captain also denied the presence of Wagner mercenaries in Burkina, saying that” our Wagner are the VDP”, Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland, the military auxiliaries of the army.
