By Özgür Altınbaş
Burkina Faso made a move against Western colonialism with the coup in September 2022, contributing significantly to the weakening of colonial powers in Africa. Ibrahim Traoré, the head of the interim government, improved relations with Türkiye, Russia and China. After spending more than 3 months in Burkina Faso, Italian/Russian journalist Vittorio Nicola Rangeloni explained the latest developments in the country.
‘Traoré gave new hope to the people’
How does society in Burkina Faso view the government at the moment?
The Burkinabe people gave me the feeling that they were firm in their support for Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of the transitional government. I saw a lot of pride and association with the legendary figure of Thomas Sankara. Traoré has given new hope to the people of this land by putting the national interest at the center of his agenda, freeing himself from French control and Western interference.
Today, Burkina Faso can write its own history from the beginning, as opposed to finding its own culture and traditions lost due to impositions from outside.
Presence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda
What is the priority problem in Burkina Faso right now? Which problems is the government primarily focused on solving?
The main challenge for Burkina Faso for several years remains the presence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda linked terrorist groups, which today control about 30 percent of the country. These organizations pose serious challenges to the stability, security and economic development of the country. The main priority of the government and the entire population is to fight against this threat.
Since the coup d’état of 2022 that put Traoré at the head of the country, Burkina Faso has become more independent with the withdrawal of foreign military troops, which has opened up new possibilities. The groundwork has been laid for a new alliance between Sahel countries. Joint military operations have begun, making counter-terrorism measures more effective, bringing good results and above all concrete prospects. The countries of the Sahel have ceased to serve the interests of France and have begun to focus on the interests of the peoples of the Sahel.
Lack of infrastructure
Economically, what is the country’s most important livelihood?
The local economy continues to rely on the extraction of precious metals (gold in first place) and the cultivation of cotton. There may be good prospects for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, but all this faces a rather significant problem: Burkina Faso is not developing enough electricity to meet the needs of the population and economic activities and is forced to import high-cost current. Solving such an important problem could open the door to significant development in the country.
Western provocations
What is the state of French and US pressure on Burkina Faso?
When Western countries saw their influence waning, they began to carry out a series of provocations in Burkina Faso aimed at discrediting the new authorities and creating tensions in society. Recently, residents of the capital have repeatedly organized demonstrations against the US and UN mission due to the accusations leveled against the Burkinabe army by the US and UN mission. Soldiers of the Burkina Faso Security and Defense forces have been repeatedly accused of committing crimes against their own civilian population without any evidence. These accusations have outraged many and highlighted the hypocrisy behind these statements. According to the country’s authorities, these are clear attempts to destabilize the country and discredit the armed forces by those who theoretically should support or at least condemn the fight against terrorism.
Military cooperation with Russia
Burkina Faso’s relations with Russia are very deep. How is the military cooperation with Russia?
Russia was one of the first countries to extend a helping hand to Burkina Faso after the formation of the transitional government. Cooperation occurs on different levels, the most visible being military-technical. In Ouagadougou there is the “African contingent” of the Ministry of Defense, trainers who are engaged in the training of the local army based on the rich experience gained in different scenarios.
Two Russian official delegations arrived in Burkina Faso in early June: A Defense Ministry delegation headed by Deputy Minister Evkurov and a delegation of parliamentarians and diplomats headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was awarded the most prestigious local honor by Ibrahim Traoré. Lavrov announced that the military contingent in the region will be put into action. Russia is increasingly promoting its relations with African countries and building more and more solid foundations of a new model of international relations based on multipolarity and mutual interests, in contrast to the (decadent) globalist model promoted by the West.
‘Türkiye supports the fight against terrorism’
How do the people of Burkina Faso view Türkiye, Russia and China?
The people of Burkina Faso, after having known the western countries and their colonialist approach, now have the opportunity to see new realities like China, Türkiye, Russia, who approach Africa differently and seek equal and mutually beneficial relations. In this case, the agreements are much more sincere and honest, and this is appreciated. Türkiye has long been supplying drones, which play a key role in the fight against terrorism. Russia is seen as a guarantor of stability and an ally on an equal footing with other Sahel countries. There is no street in the capital where the Russian flag is not displayed alongside the flags of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Burkina Faso is a country that deeply respects anyone who wants to be independent and supports that desire.