Burkina Faso: at the UN, the cry of an Africa that no longer begs for its place but demands its sovereignty
At the podium of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Burkina Faso, through its Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, did not merely speak. It gave voice to an Africa that is awakened, lucid, dignified, and resolutely focused on reclaiming its sovereignty.
Mandated by the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the Head of Government delivered an unvarnished assessment of the failures of multilateralism as practiced for 80 years and issued a clear, powerful call for the courageous reform of the UN Security Council.
This speech was not a simple diplomatic exercise; it was a political act of rupture, truth, and refoundation.
By denouncing Africa’s marginalization in UN decision-making spheres, Ouédraogo was not asking for a favor he was demanding a right. Africa is no longer a spectator continent in power games.
It is the beating heart of a changing world and must be treated as such. The silence on its representativity is a strategic negation of its voice, its will, and its dignity.
More than a plea, this intervention was an affirmation of sovereignty. By recalling the sacrifices made by the Burkinabe people in the fight against terrorism funded by popular mobilization, with over 413 billion CFA francs collected since 2023 the Prime Minister highlighted a people who refuse to accept fate, who are taking control of their destiny.
The reconquest of over 72% of the territory, a result of the patriotic commitment of the Defense and Security Forces and the VDP, is a victory of popular faith against external agendas.
The mention of the AES Confederation at this podium affirms an alternative, solidarity-based project, rooted in the history and struggles of post-colonial Africa.
It is a foundational act to lay the groundwork for a political space freed from guardianship, faithful to the legacy of Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, and all those who dreamed of an Africa standing tall.
In this sense, Burkina Faso is not speaking only for itself. It speaks for Mali, for Niger, for peoples in struggle, for an Africa of rights and responsibilities.
History will remember this speech as a step in the reconquest of African power over the African continent.
Maurice K.ZONGO
