Sahel states express concern over Nigerian president’s security remarks

Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, convened a meeting on Thursday with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Ouagadougou. This diplomatic encounter followed recent statements made by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the prevailing Sahel security concerns within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) region, according to diplomatic sources on Friday.

The meeting underscored the unified and collaborative stance of the three AES member states, as it also included the Chargés d’Affaires from the Embassies of Mali and Niger.

On July 30, President Tinubu, during discussions with traditional Nigerian leaders, attributed the surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks across Nigeria to what he described as a deterioration of security in the neighboring Sahelian nations. This information was reiterated by Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an official communiqué.

“Some of these individuals (terrorists) are not Nigerian citizens. The ongoing issue of insecurity across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger is only exacerbating our own difficulties,” President Tinubu reportedly told the traditional leaders.

The Burkinabè diplomatic chief, Minister Traoré, voiced strong disagreement with this perspective, asserting that such an interpretation of the security landscape “overlooks the significant sacrifices made daily by the defense and security forces, as well as the populations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in their relentless fight against terrorism.”

“This is a hasty, overly simplistic, and surprising assessment, revealing a troubling bias from Nigeria’s highest authority. We had hoped that the security context would be presented with greater accuracy, rather than attributing responsibility for a complex situation to neighboring countries, risking the fostering of misunderstandings and frustrations among peoples bound by history, geography, and fraternity,” Traoré declared.

He emphasized that President Tinubu’s comments disregard the considerable sacrifices made by the Nigerian army in confronting Boko Haram for many years, even before the scourge of terrorism had fully gripped the AES member nations.

Furthermore, Burkina Faso’s top diplomat highlighted that despite established connections between Boko Haram and certain terrorist groups active in the Sahel, the AES states have consistently refrained from public accusations against Nigeria. Instead, they have opted for an approach rooted in cooperation and shared responsibility, crucial for enhancing African current affairs and regional stability.

“Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are confronting the same adversary. Consequently, the successes achieved by the defense and security forces of the AES countries contribute positively to the overall security of the sub-region, including Nigeria, by curtailing the destructive capabilities and mobility of terrorist organizations,” he affirmed.

Traoré thus urged Nigerian authorities to promote discourse that fosters unity and solidarity, rather than making statements that could fuel divisions or misinterpretations among neighboring populations.

In response, the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires confirmed receipt of the message and pledged to accurately convey its contents to his superiors in Abuja, as confirmed by the Burkinabè Ministry of Foreign Affairs communiqué.