Burkina Faso's interim President Ibrahim Traore on Thursday said Russia had become a key strategic ally but denied that Russian mercenaries were supporting Burkinabe forces in their fight against Islamist armed groups.
out French troops in February and ended an accord that allowed France to fight insurgents there amid a rise in anti-French sentiment in parts of the region.
"The departure of the French army does not mean that France is not an ally," Traore replied. "But we have strategic allies too. We have new forms of cooperation. Russia, for example, is a strategic ally." "I am satisfied with the cooperation with Russia. It's frank," he said, sitting on an ornate chair in military fatigues and a beret.in Africa's Sahel and its border regions. France withdrew its forces from Mali last year after the junta there started working with Russian military contractor Wagner Group to fight the insurgents liked to al Qaeda and Islamic State."Our army fights alone," he said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Burkina Faso: Army Linked to Massacre of 156 CiviliansPress Release - African Union, United Nations Should Press for Credible, Independent Inquiry
Read more »
Army Linked to Massacre of 156 Civilians in Burkina FasoRights group, Human Rights Watch, says authorities should ensure an independent inquiry into the summary execution of at least 156 civilians allegedly by military forces on April 20, 2023, in the village of Karma. The group also calls on the the African Union and the United Nations to ensure that the government's promised investigation is credible and independent and that all those responsible are brought to justice. The report also says unlawful killings of civilians by Islamist armed groups and Burkinabè armed forces have spiked since 2022, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. Between April 25 and May 2, Human Rights Watch interviewed by telephone 14 people, including 6 witnesses to the killings, 2 people who visited Karma after the attack and attended the burials, 3 local civil society activists, and 3 members of international organizations knowledgeable about the facts. Human Rights Watch reviewed reports by Burkinabè organizations, as well as 135 photographs showing the massacre aftermath in Karma, including the dead and injured, as well as gunfire damage to buildings and burned houses. Nearly all the bodies were found in Karma, including those of 11 villagers who were bound and blindfolded. Nine more bodies were found in the nearby villages of Dinguiri, Kèrga, and Ramdola. Human Rights Watch obtained three lists of victim names compiled by survivors and others who visited the village. Most of the bodies were buried in four mass graves throughout Karma. Survivors said the killings occurred during a six-hour operation carried out by the army. They believed the massacre was in retaliation for attacks by Islamist armed groups against Burkinabè troops and pro-government militias earlier in the month.
Read more »
Will Nigeria’s president-elect Tinubu pursue a war on corruption despite allegations against him?Despite many allegations of corruption hanging over his head, Tinubu will take charge of Nigeria’s anti-graft crusade once inaugurated on 29 May. What does this mean for a country already regarded as one of the most corrupt in the world? By ENIBOY
Read more »
Africa Live: Police surround Zambian ex-president's home - BBC NewsAn historic round of peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the rebel Oromo Liberation Army (ORA) have ended without a deal to end the conflict in the vast Oromia region. More here:
Read more »
Nigeria President-Elect's Son Owns Corruption-Tainted UK MansionA corruption-tainted London mansion that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had targeted for confiscation now belongs to Nigeria's president-elect Bola Tinubu's son through an offshore shell company, which is also linked to the politician's surrogates. The property was being investigated by the Nigerian government as part of a corruption probe involving its former owner, Kolawole Aluko, who was accused of evading an oil-trading debt worth over U.S.$1.5 billion. Bloomberg reported that Oluwaseyi Tinubu is listed as the main shareholder of the company that purchased the property. Tinubu uses the property for his stay in London and photos from there became popular online when the politician was hosting political figures there while convalescing in 2021. Buhari whose government had sought had targeted the property for confiscation was one of the guests. The president-elect has faced questions regarding the source of his family's wealth, but he and his campaign have denied any wrongdoing.
Read more »