President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré met with the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, Angel Losada, as well as the Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel. They discussed security in Burkina but also in the region. And the future of the fight against terrorism, after the announcement last week by Emmanuel Macron of the reduction of the French presence in the region.
The European Union Special Representative stressed that the security situation in the Sahel is becoming very complicated with the events in Mali and Chad. And with the President of Burkina Faso, it was discussed the role that Burkina Faso can and must play in this situation. Angel Losada assured that the EU will always stand by the G5 Sahel countries.
“It is true that there is a recomposition that was decided by France. The European Union, of which France is a member, is not only maintaining its missions but is in the process of expanding them. The Sahel coalition is being maintained. Pillar No. 1, which is with the Tacouba force, will maintain its operations, with the strengthening of military and security capabilities. ”
At the end of the mission, Maman Sidikou, the executive secretary of the G5 Sahel, pleads for the involvement of other African states in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
“The tragedy we are experiencing are the difficulties of Africa, not just five countries. I think there is fundamental work to be done at this level to mobilize more of our brothers everywhere: from Egypt through Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco so that this Sahel space is not the weak link of African security. ”
Maman Sambo Sidikou insisted on the need for the African continent as a whole to unite to face terrorism.