Burkina Faso Thanks Gift From Russia.
Burkina Faso announced that it had received 25.000 tons of wheat offered at zero cost by Russia. The confirmation was made by a member of the government who called the delivery a “priceless gift”.
Ties between Moscow and Ouagadougou have strengthened since the military took power following two successive coups d'état in 2022. Last month, Russia reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso, which had been closed since the collapse of the former Soviet Union .
Russia's Gift
It was during a summit in St. Petersburg last year that President Vladimir Putin promised to send Burkina Faso a gift of thousands of tons of wheat. Russia is one of the world's largest cereal producers and expects to export around 45 million tonnes of wheat this fiscal year, according to US estimates.
Russia is isolated, condemned by a large part of the international community due to the war in Ukraine. Because of this, it seeks to deepen alliances in Africa and other countries outside the purview of the “Western world”.
During a ceremony last Friday, Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, stated that Russia's shipment of wheat would help propel his nation towards
“Develop our own production capacity in order to put an end once and for all to dependence on food from abroad.”
Nandy Some Diallo, Burkina Faso's minister of solidarity and humanitarian action, said the government was “delighted” and called the grain delivery a “priceless gift” that would benefit internally displaced and vulnerable people.
The New Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, while moving closer to Russia, has distanced itself from the former colonial power, France, and last year ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the national territory.
Around a quarter of all children under five have had their growth stunted, according to UN data, and more than three million people face acute food shortages.
The West African nation faces a long-running Islamic insurgency, an insurgency that has so far forced more than two million people to flee their homes. One in four schools is closed due to danger to children.
The security crisis in Burkina Faso is so serious that some citizens happily welcomed the 2022 military coups, hoping they would bring an end to the violence and insurgency. However, the military junta failed in its early promises to confront the Islamist militants who still control large swaths of the country.
Earlier this week, there were reports that a contingent of Russian troops had arrived in Burkina Faso to help resolve the problem. As a country rich in gold and other minerals, the government was forced to deny reports that it paid Russian mercenaries by giving them rights to mines in the country.
Last summer, in July, Burkina Faso also signed an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear power plant, with the aim of increasing energy supplies. Less than a quarter of the country's population has access to electricity, with the energy produced, the aim will be to resolve this situation.
Conclusion
In the face of humanitarian challenges and political complexities in Burkina Faso, the Russian wheat donation comes as a crucial relief. Deepening bilateral relations, this gesture highlights the intersection between international aid, geopolitical dynamics and Burkina Faso's aspirations to overcome its crises.
However, uncertainty remains over the effectiveness of the military junta's promises to eliminate the persistent control of Islamic militants. But the arrival of Russian troops and the agreement to build a nuclear power plant bring new challenges, proving that international cooperation is vital for its sustainable development.
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Picture: © 2024 Francisco Lopes-Santos
