BURKINA FASO: When absurdity takes precedence over reason during Djibril Bassolé’s media appearance

Following the terrorist attack in Koumbri in northern Burkina Faso, which left many deads and wounded, Djibril Bassolé, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs under Blaise Compaoré, resurfaced on a Western media outlet with some incredibly incoherent remarks. This is no coincidence, given Bossolé’s position on terrorism in the Sahel and the ambiguous role he has played in the past.

How can we negotiate with terrorists? On what subject? And what demands?

 If Burkina Faso is in a state of insecurity today, it is thanks to the irresponsibility of people like Djibril Bassolé and his mentor Blaise Compoaré, who at some point saw fit to sign agreements with terrorists. This is not the first time that Djibril Bassolé has made such a proposal to Damiba, before the arrival of Ibrahim Traoré.  First of all, this attack is not insignificant. If brave Burkina soldiers have fallen in defence of their country, it is because there is sabotage and an obscure plan is being carried out.

Talking about negotiating with terrorists means doing what? rolling out a red carpet for them at the presidency? or running the country with them by sharing government posts? This media appearance by Djibril Bassolé is utter nonsense. And it goes as far as insulting the memory of all the soldiers who have died in this battle. Sometimes it’s better to keep quiet if you have nothing lucid to say.

Agreeing to negotiate with terrorists would encourage them to re-offend. You don’t negotiate with terrorists, you put them out of action. First of all, they have no demands other than to see bloodshed. However, it is not the fact of negotiating itself that encourages terrorists to reoffend, but rather the extent to which they succeed in achieving their objectives through negotiation.

Either Djibril Bassolé is the leader of the terrorists, is aware of their demands and, given the disagreement between him and the current government, wants to negotiate in order to kill two birds with one stone, or he is just a pawn that France wants to use to implement yet another diabolical plan.

Ester Rouamba