Burkina Faso: «The Current Constitution Is A True Copy Of The French Constitution», The Head of Government
Following a meeting with Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister, Olivia Rouamba, the new EU ambassador accredited to Burkina-Faso, Daniel Gaztelumendi, was received by the head of government, Dr Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélèm de Tambèla. The ambassador, accompanied by other European diplomats including the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, Emmanuela C. Del Re, reviewed the various aspects of cooperation between the European Union and Burkina Faso.
According to the Prime Minister, cooperation ties between Burkina Faso and the EU are very good, unlike those with France.
France «thinks it must always act as if we were still its colonies. We reject that. It is now up to us to define our vision. France constantly wants to keep us under its domination, and because we refuse that, the French government has no hesitation in using international institutions to obstruct all projects in favour of Burkina Faso» he told the EU delegation.
Continuing, the Prime Minister said that if France did not change its policy towards Burkina Faso, «relations would deteriorate, because we are here to guarantee our full sovereignty and build our country». For him, this building of the country must involve a new constitution, as he believes that the current one is a carbon copy of the French Constitution, which does not reflect the realities and aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso.
According to the head of government, the time has come for the country of men of integrity to have a constitution that is «solidly rooted in the structures of society, to ensure reliable institutions».
It is only on this basis, and once the national territory has been reconquered and secured, that we can think about organising elections, because «it is not a question of organising folkloric elections to please others».
In his view, territorial security is a priority, as President Ibrahim Traoré had stressed. «People must be free to move around and come and go, and election candidates must be able to campaign throughout the country. We need to resettle voters and draw up credible electoral registers that include all voters»explained Dr Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélèm from Tambèla.
