Burkina : Here's why I. Traoré accuses Benin

Détourner l’attention du peuple burkinabé sur des échecs de son régime : this is the real objective pursued by captain Ibrahim Traoré who, the 11 July 2023, launched accusations without evidence on both Benin and Ivory Coast.

It’s in front of a conquered and excited crowd, the Burkinabe head of state declared, in what amounts to a general policy speech, that Benin is home to two French military bases, one in Kandi and the other in Porga, in which terrorists would be trained to be sent to Burkina Faso. Long before him, the Beninese activist stripped of his French nationality had made a similar accusation following the Nigerien authorities before later retracting.

Benin was not alone in the sights of the Burkinabe captain. According to him, the Ivory Coast, countries where more than 5 million Burkinabés, shelters “operations centers” intended to destabilize his country. In support of his words, he claimed that he had material evidence which he promised to produce when the time came.

Like he usually does, the Ivorian president did not react to these accusations but for his part, the government of Benin immediately responded through its spokesperson, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji. “The terrorist attacks recorded by Benin to date, the vast majority of which were foiled by our Defense and Security Forces, are the work of people coming from across our borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. This is also what led the Government of Benin, in its strategy to counter the phenomenon, to be built to count on 2022, small military camps called forward operating bases, in several of our border communities ».

According to the Beninese authorities, ces accusations, following those made by the Nigerien junta, this is nauseating disinformation “which fuels patriotism, but rather the resentment of the populations and ultimately threatens the peaceful coexistence of peoples”.

Since the coup d’état perpetrated by Captain Ibrahim Traoré in 2022, Burkina Faso's security problems have worsened despite sharply increasing military spending. In response, the power has distinguished itself in abuses where entire villages are sometimes massacred because they are suspected of collaboration with jihadists. This is how the 23 June, armed individuals, identified as Defense and Security Forces and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (Vdp) broke into Kari, village located on the Dédougou/Bobo-Dioulasso axis (RN10), and opened fire on the population, targeting the Fulani community, mainly made up of women and children..

otherwise, the regime faces internal opposition which, braving kidnappings and forced recruitment into the Vdp, is becoming more and more pressing. After a period of fear, more and more dissident voices are indeed being heard. Recently, these are the magistrates who dare not agree with the junta in trials that the young captain has placed on his blacklist.

At the same time, on the economic plan, Burkina Faso is increasingly experiencing isolation, which is ultimately detrimental to the country's growth.. For exemple, this country whose main wealth is the gold in its subsoil, experienced a decline in 87% foreign direct investment.

Faced with the lack of results on the security and economic levels and increasingly pressing internal opposition, the military regime found no other initiative than to mobilize its supporters by designating external enemies. In this, he did not innovate. This strategy is the hallmark of dictatorial regimes in decline.. And that's why, he has a base made up of poorly educated activists, therefore ready to take his speeches as gospel.

Pierre MATCHOUDO