Ibrahim Traoré, on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the AES: They want to "assassinate the unifying spirit that drives us"

Burkina Faso's President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, addressed the people of the Confederation of Sahel States yesterday, Monday, July 6, on the occasion of the union's second anniversary. In his speech, the leader called on Malians, Burkinabe, and Nigeriens to remain mobilized to provide appropriate responses to "the large-scale economic and media war being waged against the three states."

They want to "hinder the ongoing structuring of our confederation and assassinate the unifying spirit that animates us, as has been done in the past on our continent," accused the current president of the Confederation of Sahel States.

"The Confederation is committed to the ideals of African unity."

He reiterates that the Confederation "is not directed against any people, any nation, or any organization." It "constitutes a sovereign choice freely made by three independent states determined to combat terrorism, preserve the integrity of their territories, and fully regain their independence in order to build a more just and united world."

"The Confederation is committed to the ideals of African unity, pan-Africanism and regional integration, and we believe in fruitful dialogue and cooperation between peoples," Captain Traoré also emphasizes.

"Mutual respect, sovereign equality of states, defense of the interests of our people..."

He specifies, however, that "this cooperation must be based on clear and non-negotiable principles (which are): mutual respect, the sovereign equality of States, the defense of the interests of our people, the control of our natural resources, respect for dignity, non-interference in the internal affairs of States and reciprocity."