The debates at the 78th United Nations General Assembly continue to make headlines. This time, it was the Minister of Civil Service of Burkina Faso, Bassolma Bazié, who took the floor to denounce the hypocrisy of Western powers, in particular France, and express his dissatisfaction with the blockage of the weapons promised to his country.
In her frank and offensive speech, Bassolma Bazié underlined the contrast between the support given to Ukraine in its war against Russia and the frustrating wait of Burkina Faso in the face of armed and terrorist groups which threaten its security. He said that despite aid cuts and cancellations of training conventions, military equipment ordered by Burkina Faso was voluntarily blocked by its international partners.
The Minister of Public Service then gave the example of a contract with Brazil for the acquisition of air vectors, for which the weapons license had to come from Belgium and the navigation and firing system from the United States. . According to Bazié, all these means are currently blocked, thus endangering the security of Burkina Faso.
Faced with this situation, the minister affirmed that Burkina Faso would ensure its own security as a priority and would choose its defense partners without any constraints. He mentioned countries like Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Nicaragua and North Korea as possible options for buying and selling military products.
Bassolma Bazié’s speech at the UN reflects Burkina Faso’s determination to fully assume its sovereignty and not to depend on the interests and restrictions imposed by other countries. This statement raises questions about international relations and defense cooperation.
It is clear that Burkina Faso is seeking to diversify its partnerships and find alternative solutions to meet its security needs. By emphasizing autonomy and freedom of choice, the country demonstrates a desire to turn away from traditional dependencies and take its destiny into its own hands.
This speech also recalls the importance for African countries to promote true international cooperation based on the equality of partners, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. History will record whether Western nations respond to Burkina Faso’s concerns and commit to supporting its security and development.
Ultimately, Bassolma Bazié’s speech is a call to action for greater autonomy and sovereignty for African countries in matters of security. It highlights the need to create a more balanced and inclusive world order, where every nation is respected and has the opportunity to defend itself and thrive in a secure environment.