A week after the grain deal expired, Ouagadougou sent its thanks to Moscow, which has taken charge of the supply of agricultural products to six African countries.
While "appreciating" Vladimir Putin's "generous" gesture of providing free cereals to African countries, Burkinabe President of the Transition Ibrahim Traoré deemed it "desirable that we could produce ourselves".
In an interview granted exclusively to Sputnik Africa, after the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, he also recalled that this batch of cereals to his country is not the first.
"Well before the announcement, in the case of Burkina, the Russian president had already sent cereals and I think they should be on the way. So it's not the first time," Traore said.
Putin 'Acts' While Others 'Do Nothing'
According to Traore, Mr. Putin, "is aware that we are at war, that we have internally displaced persons". While others "do nothing", Vladimir Putin, "acts", the African leader emphasized.
"When the cereals arrive, we will do everything to let the population know that it comes from Russia and that is appreciable," he vowed.
Burkina Faso also discussed with Russia other possibilities of helping this African country, in particular to "maintain the production of agricultural equipment so that we can be independent on this score".
'Equal to Equal Exchange'
Regarding his impressions of Russia, Ibrahim Traore especially appreciated "the respect" he felt there.
"Africans in general, today, cannot understand the lack of respect of certain states vis-a-vis our countries," he noted. But in Russia, "there is respect, there is consideration. There is in fact equal-to-equal reciprocity."
During decolonization, Russia "played an important role in Africa," he added.
"Russia is still a state that is anti-imperialist, that does not like slavery, domination, does not interfere in the internal affairs of states […]. And Russia supports as [much as] it can. We are in conflict, we want weapons or whatever. As long as they can, they give. We have a conflict, we have displaced people, a humanitarian situation and what they can, they give," the leader elaborated.
Russia to Provide Free Grain
In July, Russia refused to extend the Black Sea grain agreement, after having pointed out irregularities in its operation for several months.
According to the Russian president, low-income countries received only 3% of the grains sent under this arrangement.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit, Putin said his country was ready to deliver free grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Central African Republic, Mali and Eritrea.
The volume here ranges from 25,000 to 50,000 tons.