Burkina Faso: President Ibrahim Traoré receives emissaries from the Presidents of Niger and Mali following the Barsalogho attack

On Monday morning, Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, welcomed emissaries from Niger and Mali, sent by Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, and Mali’s leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, who currently presides over the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The delegation, led by Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, and General Mohamed Toumba, Niger’s Minister of the Interior, conveyed their nations’ solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso following the devastating terrorist attack in Barsalogho on August 24, 2024.

Colonel Maïga, speaking on behalf of the AES, expressed profound sorrow over the attack that targeted innocent civilians. “We received the news of the cowardly terrorist attack on the peaceful population of Barsalogho with great sadness and grief. This tragedy has not only affected Burkina Faso; it has deeply wounded the entire Sahel States Alliance,” he stated.

The meeting underscored the critical importance of unity and cooperation among AES member states in confronting shared security challenges.

By dispatching this delegation, the leaders of the Alliance aimed to demonstrate their unwavering support for Burkina Faso, a nation severely impacted by the scourge of terrorism.

The representatives reaffirmed the commitment of Presidents Goïta and Tiani to continue working alongside Burkina Faso to bolster security and stability across the Sahel region.

This visit highlights the growing cooperation among the three AES member countries, emphasizing the urgent need for a collective response to the escalating terrorist threat in the region.

It also reflects the determination of the AES to intensify joint efforts in combating terrorism and safeguarding their populations.

Ali ZOUNGRANA