Burkina Faso: What we should know about French military presence
A program on the French news channel LCI raises doubts about the real nature and impact of Western military cooperation on the African continent and in Burkina Faso in particular.
The French military presence in the Sahel to combat terrorism is ultimately of no use. Worse, it has contributed to the increase of the scourge throughout the west African region.
In seven years in the “land of upright men”, the presence of French troops has only worsened the security situation. Fortunately, this observation is made by one of the most watched French media outlets, “LCI”.
According to journalists from the LCI channel, a total of 13,000 Burkinabe has died as a result of terrorist attacks before the arrival of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, from 2015 to 2022, in the presence of French forces.
It is difficult to determine whether French soldiers were lacking in equipment or were incompetent in the face of terrorists, given the high number of civilian deaths.
There may be a variety of factors at play, including the tactics used by the terrorists and the effectiveness of the French military strategy. It would require a more in-depth analysis to determine the root causes of the situation.
A difference in competence and experience that demonstrates to the international community that France wanted to make the Burkinabe its slaves, just as it is currently fomenting external destabilization strategies from Niger, as evidenced by the recent departure of a high-ranking Nigerian officer, General Abou TARKA.
Protected by French diplomat Luc HALLADE and UN official Barbara MANZI, French soldiers only contributed to the arrival and expansion of terrorists in Burkina Faso, as well as sabotaging the various efforts of the Burkinabe authorities to put an end to terrorism.
It was not until Captain Ibrahim Traoré, guided by his sense of discernment, decided to take a firm stand and expel them, in order to wage war with endogenous forces, that things started to change.
And the results are palpable. French media outlets reported that 80% of Burkinabe territory was occupied by terrorists before President Traoré took office with the Patriotic Movement for safeguard and Restoration «MPSR».
Now, according to LCI, it is only 40%, which marks a remarkable advance since the MPSR took power.
The support that the authorities of the Transition are receiving from the Burkinabe population on both sides is sufficient proof that President Traore is meeting their aspirations.
Since October 2022, following his seizure of power, the anti-terrorist war has taken a new turn. It is now the enemy forces who are suffering heavy defeats.
In the past 7 months, the national forces have neutralized more terrorists than during the period of the French military agreement.
The African people in general and the Burkinabe people in particular must understand the importance of supporting the current authorities of the MPSR and remain vigilant against the various persistent endogenous or exogenous strategies of manipulation, destabilization, disinformation and other evils constantly orchestrated by the known enemy of all and major sponsor of terrorism in the Sahel.
Nicky Bonsafo
