Sahel: Is France preparing a new wave of destabilisation in the AES?
Burkina Faso, along with its neighbors in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — Mali and Niger — is facing a covert threat allegedly orchestrated by France.
Recent developments have raised alarms, particularly following a visit by retired French General Lecointre to a neighboring country.
Lecointre, known for his controversial remarks advocating the recolonization of Africa, appears to be part of a broader strategy aimed at destabilizing the AES.
Niger has recently presented substantial evidence indicating that terrorists are being recruited and trained in a neighboring country with the intention of launching attacks against AES member states.
This revelation casts doubt on France’s true motives, especially in light of its recent establishment of a military command for Africa in June 2024.
This move is puzzling given France’s prior announcement to scale back its military presence on the continent to just a few hundred troops.
The establishment of this military command raises several questions: why create such a command when the plan was to reduce military presence?
The answer seems to lie in the recent actions and statements of General Lecointre.
His reinstatement and visit to a neighboring country appear to be part of an effort to reactivate terrorist networks and incite chaos within AES countries.
In response, AES nations remain on high alert. Regional solidarity and strengthened cooperation among member states are crucial to counter these destabilization attempts.
Under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso must continue to bolster its defense capabilities and maintain close collaboration with its allies to effectively counter these threats.
Maurice K. ZONGO
