UN General Assembly: Burkina Faso accuses foreign powers of exacerbating Sahel crisis

Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traore, highlighted before the UN General Assembly High-Level Debate in New York his country’s progress in combating terrorism and criticized foreign interference in the Sahel region.

Traore reported that Burkina Faso now controls nearly 70% of its territory, up from 40% in 2022, in its fight against terrorist groups. He defended the professionalism of Burkina Faso’s Defense and Security Forces, citing their participation in peacekeeping operations and training in international humanitarian law.

The minister accused foreign powers of “financing and supporting terrorism” in the Sahel, specifically naming Ukraine as a “sponsor” of terrorists in the region. Traore emphasized the importance of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), formed to protect the populations suffering from the security and humanitarian crisis.

Expressing frustration with sub-regional institutions’ inability to address security concerns, Traore stated that the AES is awaiting strong decisions from the UN Security Council, which it appealed to in August.

Burkina Faso also voiced support for reforming the UN Security Council to include African representation, arguing that this would establish the UN’s universal character and address persistent injustice against Africa.

The Burkinabe official’s address underscored Burkina Faso’s stance on regional security and its criticism of international involvement in Sahel affairs.