The hot news at the 78th United Nations General Assembly was marked by the offensive speech by the Minister of Civil Service of Burkina Faso, Bassolma Bazié. During his 40-minute speech, he did not mince his words in denouncing the hypocrisy of Western powers, particularly France, in supporting other countries in conflict, while Burkina Faso finds itself blocked in its fight against armed and terrorist groups.
Bazié stressed that not only has Burkina Faso faced aid cuts and the cancellation of training conventions for its defense forces, but he also deplored the deliberate blocking of military equipment ordered by the country. He took the example of the air vectors necessary for the control and defense of the territory, whose components had to come from different nations, but which are currently blocked by bureaucratic obstacles. These means essential to the security of Burkina Faso are thus cynically hampered, which Bazié firmly opposed.
The Burkinabe minister also announced that his country will no longer depend on other nations for its security. He affirmed Burkina Faso’s desire to choose its partners in a sovereign manner and to purchase its means of defense wherever it wishes. Bazié clearly indicated that military partnerships will be sought with countries such as Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Nicaragua and even North Korea, without the intermediary or permission of anyone.
This strong declaration sends a clear message about Burkina Faso’s desire for independence and sovereignty vis-à-vis its powerful international partners. The country is asserting itself, ready to defend itself by its own means and to find alternatives to ensure its national security.
Bazié’s speech at the UN sparked strong reactions and opened the way to an essential debate on relations between countries of the South and Western powers. This courageous position taken by Burkina Faso resonates as a challenge to international power dynamics and raises questions about the relevance of traditional alliances.
Time will tell how this translates into practice for Burkina Faso and whether it will find the right partners to fill the gaps in its national security. In the meantime, the strong and determined voice of Bassolma Bazié during the 78th United Nations General Assembly will go down in diplomatic annals as a call for the autonomy and sovereignty of African nations.