Last July, the ESA countries walked out of the 2nd Ordinary Session of the WAEMU Council of Ministers in Lomé, Togo. The source of this discontent was the failure to reach a consensus on the appointment of Burkina Faso as the rotating presidency of the Council.

Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali denounced the non-compliance with Article 11 of the WAEMU Treaty, which clearly states that the presidency of the Council must be rotating and entrusted to one of the finance ministers of the eight member states for a period of two years.

“It doesn’t work with us!”

 

It was Burkina Faso's turn to reign. Asked about the incident in Lomé in late September, Burkinabe President Captain Ibrahim Traoré suggested he was not surprised by what happened. "There are people who claim to govern all of West Africa. They are the ones who are the... It doesn't work with us! We told them that clearly. I've already told certain heads of state, it doesn't work," Captain Traoré said.

When asked if this incident could cause the AES to leave the UEMOA, he gave a nuanced response: "If there is a need (we will leave) and perhaps we are even moving towards that. If we cannot govern, what do you want? We are being chased away... We are being pushed towards the door, we are going to leave. We are watching them. The ball is in their court."

 

Who are they?

 

Analyzing Captain Traoré's remarks, we clearly notice that the leader accuses certain West African leaders without naming them. According to him, these leaders "claim to govern all of West Africa." But who are they? It's hard to say.

On the other hand, it would be hypocritical to deny that several WAEMU leaders are not in favor of the AES. Did this club of presidents opposed to the putschists go out of their way last July to sideline Burkina Faso?