Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, emphasised that his country is not an “enemy” of the “French people” during an interview broadcast by Radio Télévision du Burkina (RTB) on Wednesday evening.
In the interview, recorded on August 31, Captain Traoré stated, “We are not adversaries of the French people; it is the policies of those governing France that pose challenges in Africa. As long as a state does not adopt an imperialistic attitude, there are no issues.”
He further stressed the need for equality in relations and the necessity to review all cooperation agreements. Without explicitly naming France, he criticised its historical role in granting independence and placing individuals at the helm of certain African states.
Captain Traoré acknowledged that various agreements had been signed that hindered development, pointing out that imperialist states extended beyond France, although he refrained from specifying them.
The president, who assumed power nearly a year ago through a coup d’état, questioned the effectiveness of French soldiers’ presence in Burkina Faso as part of the anti-jihadist effort, reiterating his call for their departure in January.
Burkina Faso has been actively seeking new cooperation opportunities, with Captain Traoré mentioning, “We have new partners supporting us in terms of equipment and other areas,” though he did not disclose their identities.
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivia Rouamba, expressed her country’s desire to “enhance bilateral cooperation” with Iran during an interview with President Ebrahim Raïssi in Tehran.
Last week, a Russian delegation engaged in discussions with President Traoré in Ouagadougou regarding development and military cooperation. In July, Captain Traoré attended the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg.
He also reiterated Burkina Faso’s support for Niger, a country that experienced a coup d’état on July 26. Both nations share the “three borders” region with Mali, Niger, and Burkina, an area known for jihadist group activity.
