The prime minister of Mali told the government of Burkina Faso not to use foreign armies to fight the jihadist groups that are present in both countries.
The Malian prime minister reaffirmed his commitment to winning the conflict while on a visit to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
“With our armies, we can win the war. It must be made clear that no foreign army will come to fight for us. Africans must defend themselves, but for us to do so, the army must be certain that their people are with them and that they won’t perish in vain “, according to Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maga of Mali.
In an attack on Wednesday in northern Burkina, at least 12 army auxiliary members of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) force were killed.
A few days prior, two additional attacks in the north, close to Mali, resulted in the deaths of 70 soldiers.
The Malian PM urged the Burkinabe people to unite, saying, “Like all great peoples, I believe the people of Burkina Faso must stand as one at this moment. This is a difficult period because you have made choices today that are not to everyone’s liking.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, who seized power in a coup last year, was able to convince the French ambassador and his special forces to leave the Sabre mission after denouncing the bilateral military treaties in mid-January.
