On Thursday, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, held a meeting with Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires in Ouagadougou. The discussions followed Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarks about deteriorating security conditions across the Sahel. Representatives from Mali and Niger also participated, underscoring the collaborative stance of the AES member states.

Tinubu’s comments spark diplomatic exchange

On July 30, during a meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders, President Tinubu suggested that Nigeria’s security issues were exacerbated by the situations in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. He claimed that some armed groups operating in Nigeria originated from neighboring countries. This prompted Ouagadougou to formally communicate the AES’s position to Nigerian authorities through diplomatic channels.

During the meeting, Traoré argued that this perspective fails to acknowledge the extensive efforts made by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger over the years to combat armed groups. He highlighted the contributions of their defense and security forces, as well as local communities, in addressing the threat. The Burkinabè diplomat also pointed out that Nigeria has been fighting Boko Haram for years, while the AES states have refrained from publicly attributing the Sahel’s terrorism trends to Abuja, despite documented links between certain armed organizations in the region. He emphasized that military operations in these three countries also bolster West African security by curbing the operational capacity of jihadist groups.

Ouagadougou called on Nigerian officials to prioritize statements that foster solidarity among states facing a shared security threat. Burkina Faso maintains that cooperation remains vital in the fight against terrorist organizations active in West Africa. Following the meeting, Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires acknowledged receipt of the message and committed to relaying it to the Abuja government, as confirmed by Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.