Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali want to return to the AU.

Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali, held a summit in Ouagadougou, where they agreed to join efforts to try to reintegrate into the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

After the summit, held in the capital of Burkina Faso, they released a joint statement in which the three countries stated:

"We coordinated efforts and will carry out common initiatives for the withdrawal of suspension measures and other restrictions".

Where are included the economic sanctions imposed against the three states that suffered coups d'état.

The statement

In the joint communiqué, the representatives of the 3 countries, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali, refer that the measures of the AU and ECOWAS, affect populations already strongly affected by insecurity and political instability and deprive both organizations of the necessary contribution of the three countries, to overcome the great challenges.

The ministers stress that the current measures represent an attack on African sub-regional solidarity, which represents the essential point of regional and continental integration and cooperation.

In this sense, they regret the sanctions imposed, as they did not take into account the deep and complex causes of political changes, with regard to the social unrest that preceded the wave of protests in these countries due to increased insecurity and the deepening of the economic and social crisis. .

“The suspension decisions prevent the participation of these countries in the bodies of ECOWAS and the AU”.

"In particular those that address major challenges such as security, humanitarian issues and lasting economic development."

Clarifies the joint declaration, signed by the three ministers of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali.

The reasons

The heads of diplomacy from Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives and principles of ECOWAS and the AU.

But these principles, have to respond to the aspirations of the populations of the three countries, including programs for the development of trade, transport, obtaining necessities, professional transformation, rural development, mining, culture, arts and fight against insecurity.

Mali was the scene of two coup d'états, in August 2020 and in May 2021, especially due to increased insecurity, a similar case to that of Burkina Faso, which suffered a coup d'état in January 2022, followed by another in October to overthrow the then leader of the military junta.

In the case of Guinea-Conakry, the coup d'état of September 2021 follows an increase in popular unrest and opposition criticism against the then president, Alpha Condé, after he obtained a third term, despite the Constitution limiting two mandates.

Conclusion

Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali, suffered coups d'état at a time when it was thought that African democracy was becoming more mature and the use of such actions was in the past.

They were punished for this, since Africa wants to convey a different image from the one it has had in recent decades, but if we analyze what led to the coups, we realize that these countries found themselves without alternatives, alternatives that should have come from the side, precisely from those who penalized them.

As long as this narrow-minded mentality of the vast majority of African leaders does not disappear, Africa will continue to be considered a 3rd continent.

What do you think of this position of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry and Mali? Isn't it about time Africans got along with each other and stopped these petty disputes? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.

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