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'Wearing Blinders': ECOWAS Concerns Over Security in Burkina Faso Allayed by Interim Government

© Photo Service d'Information du Gouvernement burkinabèCouncil of Ministers held in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Council of Ministers held in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 03.01.2024
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Last week, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a communique expressing concern over the perceived deterioration of security conditions in the country and the arrests of political and civil society figures
The transitional government of Burkina Faso described the recent ECOWAS communique expressing concern over the "deteriorating security" in the West African nation, as "a biased interpretation of the situation," the country's information service said.

"While Burkina Faso's fighting forces are scoring undeniable victories in operations to regain national territory, while the National Defense and Security Forces and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland are tirelessly pursuing the hordes of terrorists, the Community [ECOWAS] is apparently wearing blinders that obscure its view of this factual reality," the statement said.

The government also expressed dismay at ECOWAS's alleged silence on critical counter-terrorism issues such as the massacre of West Africans "by bloodthirsty barbarians," while criticizing the bloc's "attitude" toward countries that allegedly support terrorists.
The government also responded to ECOWAS' concerns about the alleged arrest of civil society actors and the "illegal and arbitrary requisition procedure," criticizing the the bloc's approach as "unfounded, inconsistent and incongruous assessment."
"The government wishes to reaffirm that the requisitioning of Burkinabe citizens has been carried out to date in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law and regulations," the statement said.
Burkina Faso flag - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 31.12.2023
Sub-Saharan Africa
Burkinabe Parliament Approves Revision of Constitution
In September 2022, a group of military officers in Burkina Faso, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, announced the removal of the head of the country's transitional government, Lt. Col. Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the suspension of the constitution, and the dissolution of the government.
In April 2023, the transitional government announced a general mobilization to fight the militant terrorist groups that had taken over parts of the country. Several international extremist groups operate in the country, including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, linked to al-Qaeda*, and Ansar ul Islam.
* terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.
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