On Thursday, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, held discussions with the Nigerian chargé d’affaires in Ouagadougou. The meeting, also attended by counterparts from Mali and Niger, followed President Tinubu’s comments on the deteriorating security situation across the Sahel. This trilateral approach underscores the unified stance of the AES member states.

Tinubu’s statements spark regional response

During a July 30 gathering with Nigerian traditional leaders, President Tinubu suggested that Nigeria’s security woes were exacerbated by instability in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. He claimed that some armed groups operating in Nigeria originated from these neighboring countries. This assertion prompted Burkina Faso to issue an official rebuttal through diplomatic channels to Abuja.

During the meeting, Minister Traoré argued that Tinubu’s perspective failed to acknowledge the years of relentless efforts by defense forces and civilian populations in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to combat armed groups. He highlighted that while Nigeria has long battled Boko Haram, the AES states have refrained from publicly linking Abuja to the evolution of terrorism in the Sahel, despite documented connections between certain regional armed factions. Traoré emphasized that the military operations in the three countries have also bolstered West African security by curbing the operational capacities of jihadist groups.

Burkina Faso urged Nigerian officials to prioritize statements that strengthen solidarity among states facing a shared security threat. The country maintains that cooperation remains pivotal in the fight against terrorist organizations active in West Africa. Following the discussions, the Nigerian chargé d’affaires acknowledged receipt of Ouagadougou’s message and pledged to relay it to Abuja, as confirmed by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Ministry.