Burkina Faso Turns to Russia as West Fails to Meet Expectations, PM Tells Sputnik Africa

The UN's reaction to Kiev's support for Sahel terrorists is long overdue because the organization is dominated by the West, Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela told Sputnik Africa in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

"The Western countries are behind Ukraine. So, anything that goes against Ukraine's interests goes against their interests because Ukraine is a pawn of the West in this affair. So that's why it's not working," the prime minister stressed.

Burkina Faso and the other countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have called on the UN Security Council to take measures against Kiev, as a matter of “principle,” he added.

"Even if the condemnation doesn't come, at least we will have taken action, and we will have noted the failure of the UN in meeting its obligations," Kyelem de Tambela said.

Earlier, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso appealed to the UNSC to take measures against Ukraine for supporting terrorism in Africa, especially in the Sahel. Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine on August 5th, followed by Niger on August 8th.

In early August, Ukrainian defense intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov released a video confirming Kiev's involvement in the attack on the Malian army and the Wagner Group fighters in Mali, sparking an international uproar over Ukraine's support for terrorist groups in that country. A Malian prosecutor specializing in counterterrorism has launched an investigation into possible support for terrorists following statements by Ukrainian officials.

In an interview with Sputnik last week, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said that the country's investigation into Ukraine's cooperation with terrorists should not take much time since Kiev admits to the facts of the crimes, and the results will be published in a timely manner.

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Burkina Faso is in Favor of Independent Payment System to Facilitate Trade Relations

Commenting on the currency of settlement in transactions between Russia and Burkina Faso, the prime minister pointed out that a challenge in trade relations between the countries lies in the method of currency exchange. Russia uses the ruble, while Burkina Faso uses the CFA franc, which complicates trade.

"We are trying to find a way to facilitate our trade relations. Because if you maintain trade relations, and in terms of monetary transactions, it does not work; it blocks [transactions]. It is a blocking system. So that is why we want another or independent system that will facilitate trade relations, monetary relations, transfers between Russia and Burkina Faso," he told Sputnik Africa.

Burkina Faso's Tired of Being Bossed Around by West

Continuing on the topic of the relations between the two nations, he noted that Burkina Faso decided to turn to Moscow because the Russians show respect to their partners, while the French boss around their partners, such as Burkina Faso.

"When we are with our Russian partners, we feel that they respect us. Just as we respect them. But when we're with our French partners, we feel that they behave like bosses and that we have to go along with what they decide," Kyelem de Tambela explained.

He added that it is possible to discuss and strategize with Russia in order to agree on terms acceptable to all sides.

"Then, in economic terms, with our Russian partners we discuss the economic framework, the economic mechanisms, so that it's favorable for everyone. With our French partners, it's they who sometimes impose contracts according to their visions and interests," the prime minister continued.

When Burkina Faso was oriented towards the West, "this did not lead to our flourishing," but to "political and economic enslavement," he said. And the same goes for Niger, the top official noted, where France bought uranium at low prices when it was worth much more on the market.

"So, now we want to try somewhere else. That's why we have turned to Russia, among others," the head of government concluded.

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Countries That Claim Freedom of Expression Don't Accept Diversity of Opinion

Speaking about Western sanctions, the prime minister commented on the censorship of Sputnik news agency by Western media platforms. According to him, the countries that claim freedom of speech do not accept diversity of opinions in reality.

“[The West's blocking of Sputnik] is very shocking. Because these are the countries that proclaim everywhere that they respect human rights; they are the countries of freedom of expression, etc. While at home, they do not allow diversity of opinion. We have all witnessed that the Europeans closed all Russian news agencies as soon as the special operation in Ukraine began,” he noted.

Some countries have turned human rights into a tool to protect their own interests, the prime minister went on to say.

"When it is in the sense of their interests, whether human rights are violated or not, they turn a blind eye; it is none of their business," Kyelem de Tambela stated.

Yet, when it doesn't align with their interests, such as when one of their agents is caught spying, these powerful nations start invoking human rights, he concluded.