Burkina Faso: the authorities ready to negotiate with the jihadist groups?
Soldiers in the Dori area, Burkina Faso.
(Illustrative image) OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT AFP / File
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2 min
Are we heading towards a change of strategy in Burkina Faso in the fight against terrorism?
The question arises from the remarks made by the Prime Minister, on the sidelines of his general policy speech on Thursday.
Christophe Dabiré affirmed that he did not exclude negotiating with jihadist groups.
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These comments were made in response to a question from a member of the opposition, we said this morning in the government.
It was not in the general policy speech of the Prime Minister and on the side of the authorities, clearly, one seeks to minimize the extent of these declarations.
Christophe Dabiré only spoke yesterday of "
the possibility of possibly initiating discussions
with jihadist groups
", implying, nothing has yet been done, nothing has yet been decided.
The Prime Minister especially gave yesterday the impression of wanting to open the door to possible discussions.
“
The negotiations with the terrorists, we are not saying that Burkina Faso is against
, he said,
because even the big countries (...) have arrived at a time when another has to sit around of a table with terrorists
.
"
Questions
These words question: is this the Prime Minister's only point of view or the will of the Burkinabè State to engage in such a process?
Difficult to say at the moment.
Still, if this opening were to be confirmed, it would be a real change of strategy in Burkina Faso, because Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has always been firmly opposed to it.
Conversely, the majority of candidates in the last presidential election were in favor.
Another question posed by the Prime Minister's remarks is who to discuss?
On this point, the head of government did not wish to say more, explaining Thursday that "
the terrorists and their mentors
were not always clearly identified
".
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Burkina Faso
Terrorism
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