Burkina Faso salutes major allies Russia, Turkiye in its fight against terrorism

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - The head of the transitional government in Burkina Faso hailed the relationship with strategic allies against terrorism while urging restraint in the investigation of the recent killings of more than 100 civilians.

"The concept of Wagner was invented to tell people to stay away from Burkina Faso," Capt. Ibrahim Traore said in a national television interview late Thursday.

His comments came as he expressed satisfaction with the military’s cooperation with Russia.

Since the recent breakdown of military agreements with France, the country has turned to other "strategic” allies -- notably Russia, North Korea and Turkiye.

"We have new cooperation. We have Russia, for example, which is a strategic ally. Luckily, most of our major military assets are Russian," he said.

Traore cited Türkiye as a "major ally," assuring that his country will cooperate with those who want to help in the war on terrorism that has plagued Burkina Faso since 2015.

Several countries have categorically refused to sell equipment to Burkina Faso after Traore took power in September after a second coup with the same junta.

The interview was an opportunity for Traore to express himself concerning the massacre of dozens of civilians that occurred April 20 in the village of Karma in the northern region.

A total of 136 bodies were buried, according to Col. Francois Yameogo, the director of military justice. The civilians were killed by men dressed in army uniforms, according to judicial and local sources.

"The responsibility of the army is once again proven in this attack and these killings that were deliberately targeted at civilians," said Amnesty International.

Human Right Watch issued a report that indicated the involvement of the army "in the massacre of 156 civilians."

Nationals and survivors of the Karma massacre reported that the village "lost 147 people unjustifiably and in atrocious conditions” in a statement Anadolu received late Thursday.

"Entire families have been decimated without any form of trial by those who are supposed to protect us," it said.

“People must avoid making accusations without knowing what really happened," said Traore.

He urged "avoiding hasty conclusions" and "letting the investigations take their course before making accusations."

Traore said terrorists are exploiting the inadequacies of national laws and demanded that justice be allowed to "do its job."

Terror groups are using treacherous methods -- dressing in military garb like defense and security forces to conduct attacks, according to Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly.

"Faso Ma Patrie," a civil society movement, announced a massive mobilization May 6 to say: "No to the attempt to destabilize the Burkinabe nation" and to reaffirm support for transitional authorities, the army and its auxiliaries.