The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso has proposed the creation of a “federation” between his country and Mali, both facing jihadist violence and led by putschist soldiers who demanded the departure of French soldiers from their respective territories. “We can form a flexible federation that can go on strengthening itself and respecting the aspirations of each other at home”said Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambela, quoted in the report of a visit he made to Mali on Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1er February, published by its services.
“Our predecessors attempted regroupings, such as the Federation of Mali, which unfortunately did not last. But they showed the way”, he added in reference to a short-lived attempt at federation between Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin (1959-1960) at the time of the independence of these former French colonies. Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambela further estimated that “it is a project that we must try to trace during the transition period, because if the politicians return to power, it would be difficult”.
No official reaction has been reported from the Malian authorities to the idea of a federation. Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga encouraged his Burkinabé counterpart to follow the Malian example during a dinner on Tuesday evening. Choguel Kokalla Maïga repeated the principles which the Malian junta has made its mantra: defense of sovereignty, the freedom to choose its foreign partners and national interests. “I am sure that these principles are shared by all countries that want to take charge of themselves and our brothers and friends in (Burkina) Faso, I am convinced, must have similar requirements”he said in a video broadcast by his services.
“We have the same objective”
The colonels who took the helm of Mali by force in 2020 turned away from France and its partners and turned towards Russia. They appealed to the Russian private paramilitary group Wagner, regularly accused of abuses, say Westerners and a number of organizations. The junta denies this and speaks of state-to-state military cooperation with Russia. “We are ready to share our experience, our ideas and enrich ourselves with the ideas and experiences of others, especially our brothers with whom we have the same objective”said Maïga.
“One of the reasons for my visit to Mali is that we have seen that for a long time we have spent the time looking elsewhere, when often the solutions are right next to us”supported the Burkinabé Prime Minister, affirming that the “real revolution” led by Mali since 2020 had “inspired” the new leaders of his country.
“Mali is a major producer of cotton, cattle and gold. Burkina Faso also produces cotton, cattle, gold. As long as everyone looks elsewhere, we don’t weigh so much, but if you put together the production of cotton, gold and cattle from Mali and Burkina Faso, it becomes a power”he pointed out.
Burkina Faso, the scene of two military coups in 2022, has been caught since 2015 in the spiral of jihadist violence that appeared in Mali a few years earlier and which has spread beyond its borders. The new power resulting from the last coup d’etat of September 30, 2022, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has just requested the departure of the 400 French soldiers of the special forces of the “Sabre” operation based in Ouagadougou.