It is time for for Europe to learn from its mistakes in the Sahel
Al JazeeraFeb 15, 2022
Burkina Faso's government has decided to end a military pact that allowed French troops to fight armed groups in the West African country, its spokesperson Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo stated on Monday.
He stated that the military junta and the nation want to be the main actors to take back territory occupied by Islamist militants, and that termination of military cooperation — which was part of the original terms of the collaboration with the French — does not damage diplomatic relations.
The deteriorating security crisis in West Africa is primarily the result of the West's decade-long political and military interference under the guise of fighting terrorism. There is hope for the region only when it's no longer possible for the West to pursue its geopolitical interests unchallenged by pretending to "help" in the Sahel.
Though Western powers can be criticized for their colonial record in West Africa, local authorities must stop blaming the West for today's crises. National leaders must focus on tackling the jihadist insurgency rather than simply use it to justify their undemocratic rule. As Russian actors step up in the region to partner with military juntas, their counterterrorism efforts have proven just as unsuccessful.