‘We will not submit to any nation,’ Burkina Faso says over tensions with France
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore has declared that his country will not bow to any foreign power, as relations with former colonial ruler France remain strained.
In an interview with RT, Traore said President Ibrahim Traore’s position on foreign relations is clear, “we will not submit to any nation no matter how powerful it may be.”
“We are a proud nation with a sense of dignity and we want to develop in this spirit, honestly and decently,” he said.
The remarks come as Burkina Faso continues to distance itself from France and strengthen ties with new partners, including Russia. Since a military coup in 2022, the West African country has expelled French troops and ended several long-standing defence agreements.
Despite criticism from some Western governments, Traore rejected claims that Burkina Faso is isolating itself diplomatically.
“At the same time, we are not a closed country,” he said. “We are open to cooperation with all partners provided they treat us with respect and consider our point of view.”
He added that portrayals of Burkina Faso as turning inward are misleading. “In certain circles there is an attempt to depict our country as having taken the path of isolation, but that is simply not true,” he said. “Those who visit Burkina Faso know very well there is enough to be open and sincere to build mutual and beneficial partnerships.”
Burkina Faso is currently governed by a military administration led by Captain Ibrahim Traore and continues to face serious security threats from jihadist insurgents.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
