The Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, Jean Marie Traoré, summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of Nigeria’s embassy in Ouagadougou following comments by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu regarding alleged insecurity in the three nations of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The meeting, held in the presence of the Chargé d’Affaires from Mali and Niger—both AES members—aimed to present a unified and solidary stance from the alliance.
The issue stems from a July 30 statement by President Tinubu, who reportedly told Nigerian traditional leaders that escalating insecurity in the AES region was worsening Nigeria’s security situation. He linked this to a rise in terrorist attacks and kidnappings within Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of Burkina Faso—and the AES bloc—Minister Traoré expressed “deep regret” over what he called “inaccurate and poorly considered remarks” that contradict the spirit of solidarity among neighboring states facing shared threats. He described Tinubu’s analysis as “hasty, oversimplified, and surprising.”
“We would have preferred a more accurate portrayal of the security landscape,” Traoré stated. “Blaming neighboring countries for a complex situation risks fueling misunderstandings and frustrations among peoples bound by history, geography, and brotherhood.”
The Burkinabè diplomat emphasized that “we are not responsible for our challenges. We bear the consequences, but the true adversaries lie elsewhere.” He stressed the need for AES nations to act as “fraternal peoples facing a common threat.”
While clarifying that the AES’s response was not an act of diplomatic confrontation but a commitment to open dialogue, Traoré underscored that “only sincere cooperation can sustainably address the region’s security challenges.”
In acknowledging the AES ministers’ message for transmission to Abuja, the Nigerian representative commended their emphasis on dialogue and solidarity against terrorism. He also recognized the alliance’s efforts in combating this scourge.
