French convoy blocked in Burkina: the head of diplomacy denies social networks
The Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alpha Barry.
AFP / Issouf Sanogo
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The Burkinabè government calls on the populations for calm and understanding for an end to the crisis linked to the convoy of the French army.
During a press conference, Alpha Barry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, explained this Wednesday, November 24 that, contrary to rumors on social networks, the convoy is not intended to supply terrorist groups.
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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Yaya Boudani
Negotiations are still underway with the demonstrators so that
the convoy
can leave for Niger, assures Alpha Barry, the Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This is not the first time that a French convoy has crossed the national territory.
The chief of the general staff of the armies is regularly contacted for all convoys of the French army, according to the head of diplomacy.
"
It's a regular, usual convoy, but we understand the anger of certain populations at the moment, given the deterioration of the security situation in our country,"
declares Alpha Barry.
The convoy which is intended for the French forces in Gao is not a convoy against Burkina Faso, which is not going to arm terrorists.
"
The minister is very clear on the issue: France does not feed terrorist groups.
This is also what the spokesperson for the French army staff, Colonel Pascal Ianni, tried to explain to our colleagues in France 24. For him, these tensions are clearly the result of a disinformation orchestrated in particular on social networks.
Alpha Barry asks his compatriots not to mistake the enemy
"
I don't know if the movement is spontaneous, but it is indeed rather well coordinated,
" said Colonel Ianni.
I think that social networks play a fairly important role in the mobilization of certain demonstrators and I think there is a somewhat magnifying effect which exacerbates the perception of anti-French sentiment, because there is a lot of false information. circulating about this convoy. For example, when we read or hear that the convoy contains weapons and ammunition intended for armed terrorist groups, it is obviously an aberration. But that only feeds mistrust vis-à-vis France and the French military.
"
France is intervening in Burkina Faso at the request of the country's authorities, recalled the Burkinabè minister, as was the case during the response against the attack of November 14 in Inata, or even in Djibo, Solhan or Koutougou. Alpha Barry asks his compatriots not to mistake the enemy, because France remains one of the most reactive partners in case of need in the context of the fight against terrorism and it has always supported the Burkinabè forces.
“
The reality is quite simple,
continued Pascal Ianni
.
The French armies are engaged in the Sahel to fight against armed terrorist groups in close and permanent partnership with the Sahelian armed forces.
Not to defend hidden interests as we can read on certain networks or in certain newspapers.
In the operations we are carrying out on the ground with Sahelian partners, we always have a very good reception from the population.
"
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