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.
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.