No talks about establishing Russian military base in Burkina Faso

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Aug 2023 11:42

Burkina Faso underlines that there are no plans or talks about Russia setting up a military base in the country amid closer cooperation between the two partners.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interim President of Burkina Faso Captain Ibrahim Traore shake hands during their meeting at the Constantine Palace in Strelna near St. Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2023 (AP)

Burkinabe Defense Minister Kassoum Koulabali clarified Saturday's recent reports about the establishment of a Russian military base in the country, saying there are no discussions regarding such a base.

Burkina Faso is purchasing weapons from Russia at favorable prices and is interested in continuing this collaboration, the defense minister told Sputnik during an interview.

"I won't disclose the specific equipment to be obtained, but we have made orders, and that is confirmed," he said.

"We will try and move forward in this direction," Koulabali stressed, highlighting that the country acquired equipment at competitive prices with post-sales service guarantees, aiming to maximize their utility over time.

Regarding the country and its ties to Russian weaponry, Koulabali acknowledged Burkina Faso's consistent use of Russian arms. He further noted that "some weapons have evolved, and we made contacts, but I cannot disclose the details."

Russia recently announced its intention to reopen its embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea by the end of 2023 after a 30-year-long cessation of activities.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has emphasized Moscow's growing interest in African affairs, necessitating the establishment of new missions and an increase in staff within existing Russian missions across Africa. The ministry expressed openness to dialogue with foreign partners seeking equal cooperation and mutual benefit.

The second Russia-Africa Summit, alongside the Russian-African Economic Forum, took place from July 27 to 28 in St. Petersburg. This summit serves as a significant milestone in Russian-African relations, aiming to achieve a "new level of mutually beneficial partnership that addresses 21st-century challenges."

The summit calls for the "enhancement of comprehensive and equitable cooperation between Russia and African states across political, security, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, and humanitarian dimensions."

The summit in Saint Petersburg was held a month before a BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Putin has been invited to the summit and he will take part in every meeting of the BRICS leaders virtually.

At the conclusion of the July summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized his country's sincere desire to build a strategic and multifaceted partnership with African nations.

During the summit, President Putin commended African leaders for demonstrating political will, independence, and genuine interest in bolstering ties with Moscow.

The leaders' commitment to success in the Russian-African partnership was evident, reaffirming their collective dedication to unlock new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Putin expressed his belief in creating a fair, democratic, and multipolar world order based on universally recognized principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. The summit successfully established a mechanism for dialogue, enabling Russia and African nations to coordinate efforts in addressing global challenges such as terrorism, extremism, and food crises.

The second Russia-Africa Summit solidified efforts to promote deeper collaboration between Africa and BRICS. The summit also established dialogues between the African Union and Eurasian security blocs, namely the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These initiatives aim to foster an enhanced BRICS-Africa partnership, reinforcing the mutual interests and benefits that both regions can gain from strengthened cooperation.