Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the UN General Assembly High-Level Debate on Monday in New York.
Despite ongoing battles against a terrorist group in the northeast, he reported that nearly 70% of the territory is now under control, up from 40% in 2022.
Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore criticized what he described as propaganda against the Burkinabe Defense Forces. He emphasized their “professionalism and stellar conduct,” citing their participation in peacekeeping operations and ongoing training in international humanitarian law, which ensures that their commitment to human rights is unwavering.
He also denounced foreign powers for “financing and supporting terrorism.”
Traore explained that the Alliance of Sahel States aims primarily to “protect the populations of the Sahel who have suffered from the security and humanitarian crisis, and against whom deadly measures have been deliberately enforced to worsen their suffering.” He reiterated Burkina Faso’s accusation that Ukraine acts as a “sponsor” of terrorism in the region.
He noted that the public support for the Alliance stems from the failure of sub-regional institutions to adequately address the legitimate security concerns of the people. “The creation of the Alliance has been lifesaving, and it will be our salvation,” he stated.
The Minister mentioned that the Alliance is still awaiting a response from the UN Security Council, to which it appealed last August, hoping for “strong decisions.” He also expressed Burkina Faso’s support for reforming the UN Security Council to include African nations, asserting that this would enhance the UN’s universal character and address the ongoing injustices faced by Africa.