Burkina Faso's military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traore, attended Ghana's presidential inauguration with a holstered pistol, raising concerns about security protocols and diplomatic tensions in West Africa.
Capt Ibrahim Traore, the military leader of Burkina Faso , sparked concern when he attended the inauguration of Ghana 's President John Mahama on Tuesday with a holstered pistol at his waist. Some have interpreted this as a lack of trust in the ability of Ghana ian officials to protect Traore, while others view it as a demonstration of power. It is unclear if Traore had permission to carry the weapon, and the new Ghana ian government has not responded to a BBC request for comment.
Traore was one of 17 heads of state present at the ceremony, which comes at a time of diplomatic tension in West Africa. Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, has broken away from the regional bloc Ecowas to form a new alliance. Security analysts have pointed out that it is unusual for a head of state to carry a sidearm to an inauguration ceremony as the security of the visiting leader is typically the responsibility of the host nation. Ghanaian and Burkinabe security personnel should have discussed the issue to ensure the right protocols were followed. While some experts suggest that bilateral arrangements may have led to Traore carrying his weapon, others find the display awkward, given the context of a democratic inauguration. Relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso have been strained, particularly after Ghana's former President Nana Akufo-Addo accused Traore of harboring Russian mercenaries. Traore's attendance at the inauguration was seen as a significant diplomatic gesture aimed at normalising relations between the two countries. Ghana's support is crucial in helping Burkina Faso address its deadly militant jihadist insurgency, which poses a threat to coastal West African states
Burkina Faso Ghana Military Leader Inauguration Diplomatic Tension Security
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