Lavrov Promised Military Support to Burkina Faso

Burkina Fasso delegation during his meeting with the Russian diplomats, June 5, 2024 Photo: @netafriquenet

June 6, 2024 Hour: 12:58 am

«Our relations have a good history and are based on mutual trust, sympathy and respect. “Contacts at all levels are very intense,” Lavrov said

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, traveled on the third stop of his new African tour to Burkina Faso, a country with which Moscow seeks to strengthen its commercial and security ties, within the framework of its strategy to increase its influence in Africa.

Sergey Lavrov spoke at a news conference in the country’s capital of Ouagadougo on the third leg of his latest Africa trip, after Guinea and the Republic of Congo.

«Our relations have a good history and are based on mutual trust, sympathy and respect. “Contacts at all levels are very intense,” Lavrov said in statements reported by local media after landing on Tuesday night in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou.

“It is clear that our negotiations will contribute to achieving the objectives set by our presidents and giving new impetus to our friendly relations,” added the head of Russian diplomacy, who met with his Burkinabe counterpart, Jean Marie Traoré Karamoko.

"We will break all the bonds that kept us in slavery!"

The leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and, as a result, issued a phrase that is now widely circulated in the African segment of social networks. pic.twitter.com/eX8hWwMJVW
— S p r i n t e r F a m i l y (@SprinterFamily) June 5, 2024

Thus, Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to provide combat material and train the Army of Burkina Faso, affected since 2015 by the violence of jihadist groups linked to both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, which has left thousands dead and the displacement of more than two million people.

Lavrov said he appreciated the “objective and fair” position of Burkina Faso on the war Ukraine. “For our part, we are ready to provide our support for the just cause of Africans who are trying to free themselves from neo-colonial influence.”

According to the official agenda, Lavrov will meet this Wednesday with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, head of the military junta that has governed the country since the coup d’état of September 30, 2022, the second riot that the country suffered that year, after the coup of September 24. from January.

The Russian diplomat began his tour by meeting this Monday in Guinea-Conakry with the leader of the military junta that has governed that country since September 2021, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, before meeting on Tuesday with the president of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Sassou. N’Guesso, in Brazzaville.

The Russian Foreign Minister travelled later on to Chad.