The leader of the military junta in Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, this week accused his country's neighbors Cote d& #39;Ivory and Benin for wanting to destabilize it. France Press, quoted by BTA, notes that Captain Traore makes these accusations in the context of diplomatic tensions in West Africa.
Traore, who came to power in a coup in September 2022, gave a speech this week that lasted more than an hour and a half. In his speech, he outlined the major tasks that, according to him, face Burkina Faso in the next five years.
Captain Traore stated that the "imperialists" and some West African neighbors want to loot Burkina Faso and destabilize it. He paid special attention to Cote d'Ivoire.
"We have nothing against the people of Cote d'Ivoire, but we have a problem with those who rule Cote d'Ivoire," said the junta leader, according to whom in Cote d'Ivoire there are " destabilization operations center" of Burkina Faso. He promised to present "physical evidence" for his claims.
AFP notes that Captain Traore, for whom Burkina Faso's sovereignty is a top priority, has turned his back on France and criticized Ivory Coast for still being an ally of Paris.
The other West African country that has come under fire from Burkina Faso's leader is Benin. According to Traore, there are "two French bases" in Northern Benin. In his words, the bases are a "center of operations for terrorists" who often attack Burkina Faso. France and Benin reject these accusations, which were already made earlier this year by Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamin Zine.
Burkina Faso, along with its neighbors Niger and Mali, which are also ruled by military juntas, formed the Alliance of Sahelian States. Last week, the leaders of the three countries signed an agreement to create the new union, which covers 72 million people, according to the France 24 television website. This is a major geopolitical shift, considering that the three countries announced in January that they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At the tripartite meeting in the Niger capital, Niamey, where the Sahel Alliance agreement was signed last week, it was stated that the rupture of the new association with ECOWAS was irreversible.
In his speech on Thursday, Captain Traore also touched on the issue of minerals in Burkina Faso. He said that Burkina Faso will exploit its mineral deposits on its own, particularly its gold deposits. The leader of the junta also said that he will make it his goal to oppose statements that damage the prestige of Burkina Faso.
"You may not like me, but you must love your country. We will not allow the people of Burkina Faso to speak against their country", Traore was categorical.
At the end of May, it was announced that military rule in Burkina Faso would continue for another five years.