Burkina-Faso: Captain Ibrahim Traoré says there are plenty of coup plotters within ECOWAS
In an interview with journalist Alain Foka, the President of the Transition, Ibrahim Traoré, spoke on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, about the withdrawal of the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from ECOWAS. According to the Burkinabe Head of State, «it is not with joy that we turn our backs on an organization».
According to Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS came after “a profound analysis.”
ECOWAS was established in 1975 with certain values such as «solidarity», «mutual aid», «Pan-Africanism», and the «will to integrate peoples». “Unfortunately, over time, the organization has lost these values,” emphasized Captain Traoré.
In the view of some opinions, the withdrawal of the AES countries from the sub-regional organization is a maneuver by these states to avoid the pressure from ECOWAS for a return to constitutional order.
On the dynamics, Captain Ibrahim Traoré believes that «there are many coup plotters» among the leaders of ECOWAS.
«There are military coup plotters within ECOWAS who today claim to be democrats. There are civilians. There are worse than coup plotters. There are those who kill, who silence their people in silence. ECOWAS closes its eyes, its ears», regretted the Burkinabe Head of State in Alain Foka’s interview.
The transitional President went even further, criticizing the functioning of the organization itself.
«They themselves have never respected their texts. It’s done at the discretion of the client. That’s what we noticed. The sanctions imposed on Niger, that doesn’t exist anywhere in the texts», he further observed.
After the decision to withdraw by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the organization still hopes for consultation, indicating that these countries are still members of ECOWAS. On this subject, Captain Traoré remains firm.
«We are leaving, but we remain Pan-African. An African who wants to come to Burkina Faso is welcome here», he specified.
Papa IBRAHIMA
