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  • Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger withdraw from ECOWAS bloc

    Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger withdraw from ECOWAS bloc

    A major crisis hit the 49-year old Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday.

    Three member-countries-Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger-quit the sub-regional group, following protracted disagreement over its rejection of military rule in West Africa.

    However, ECOWAS claimed that it was yet to get notification about the withdrawal announced by governments of the three countries.

    The three Sahel nations said in a joint statement on state televisions that they had made a “sovereign decision” to leave ECOWAS “without delay”.

    The juntas said they have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the ECOWAS,” alleging that the bloc has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment.

    The statement added: “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure.”

    Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, relations between the regimes and ECOWAS have been ruptured, following the coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

    The three countries were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

    They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.

    The French military withdrawal from the Sahel – the region along the Sahara desert across Africa – has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to Gulf of Guinea states – Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.

    The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime, Ali Zeine, Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.

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    Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions, following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.

    The bloc, in a statement yesterday, said it was yet to get any official or direct notification from the three countries.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on the National Televisions of Mali and Niger announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.

    “The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three member states about their intention to withdraw from the community.

    “The ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the community and the authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.

    “The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves.”

    Analysts: use persuasive diplomacy to bring them back

    Reactions by international relations expects have trailed the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    They urged the regional body to employ  persuasive diplomacy to bring them back into the fold.

    The experts said in ECOWAS, like other international organisations, individual countries can decide to join or leave, depending on the interests they are pursuing.

    They said other ECOWAS member-states should find a way of discussing with the countries and bringing them back on board through dialogue.

    According to those who spoke, the affected countries are sending a signal, adding that “they will be the one who will later want to seek readmission”.

    An Associate Professor and the Acting Director of Research and Studies Department at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Efem Ubi, yesterday recalled that he asserted in a recent paper published by Financial Nigeria that if ECOWAS intervened militarily in any of the three countries, it would be its end.

    I think the issue of military coups has not been handled rightly by the bloc,” Ubi said.

    “With the announcement of this new alliance, can we say ECOWAS is still in existence? This is just the beginning of what we are expecting to see. Now, they have moved away; they have formed an alliance. I don’t know what you are still going to call the other remaining 12 ECOWAS members.

    “I think the issue of military coups has not been handled rightly by the bloc,” Ibim said.

    He said the sanctions placed by ECOWAS on the three countries only affect the citizens and not the coup plotters.

    “ECOWAS has to look at the root causes of the problem of coups in West Africa. I have said it on many occasions that root causes of military take over have not been addressed.

    “What I think ECOWAS should do is to embrace more of diplomacy.”

    “It’s the military option that has degenerated to this point. They should find a way of discussing with the countries and bring them back on board. The best way is to manage the problem through dialogue,” he said.

    Former Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye- Ekiti, Ekiti State, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, said the three countries have done what they think is in their interests.

    According to him, ECOWAS should use persuasive diplomacy.

    “The three countries should also not be carried away by the euphoria of the movement. I hope they are not being edged on by external forces. Russia is showing keen interests in the region.

    “I hope this is not funeral song of ECOWAS being sung. Therefore, Nigeria and others should bring them back into the fold.”

    But, a one-time Ambassador to Belgium, Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo, said it was not the first time that a country would withdraw from ECOWAS.

    According to him, Mauritania, which was part of the countries that signed the ECOWAS Treaty in Lagos in 1975, gave one year notice in 1999 that it was leaving the organisation.

    “It left and it has not come back. These three countries – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – are landlocked, which means it will be difficult for them without the ECOWAS neighbours interacting with them. Before ECOWAS was established, the three countries were interacting with themselves.

    “Because they are under suspension, other ECOWAS countries can say they are rejecting their withdrawal. They can also say we will only accept your withdrawal when you return to civilian rule and the civilian governments can now say they are leaving ECOWAS.

    “The situation is different from Mauritania, which said it would prefer to join the Maghreb Union.

    “In ECOWAS, like other international organisations, individual country can decide to join or not to join, depending on the calculations of the interests to belonging to the organisation. The three as sovereign states can say they are withdrawing from ECOWAS.

    “And ECOWAS can say you are the one who will suffer. Let’s see how you will survive. And ECOWAS can punish them more. I also know that some people would say let ECOWAS go and use force.

    “But because ECOWAS is an international organisation, it should just allow erring members to go because they are sovereign countries. They may suffer from more sanctioning and when they learn their lessons; they can come back.”

    A former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, described the decision of the three West African countries as a new development, which is not unconnected with the current political situations in the three countries.

    Stressing he was not surprised by their actions, he, however, said it is a storm in tea cup that would soon fizzle out.

    The former Permanent Secretary said: “They are sending a signal, but the point is that they will be isolated as they are now.

    “Down the road, they will be the one who will later want to seek readmission.”

    He also asked rhetorically: “Where are they going to? After the present leaderships, what will be the future of the countries? “

    Lolo said no democratic government would want to follow their path of action.

    Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Programme at the Washington-based Wilson Centre think tank, said in parts of West Africa, ECOWAS is fast losing its effectiveness and support among citizens, who see it as representing only the interests of the leaders and not that of the masses.

    Widely seen as Africa’s top political and regional authority, the 15-nation bloc of ECOWAS — formed in 1975 to “promote economic integration” in member states — has struggled in recent years to reverse rampant coups in the region where citizens have complained of not benefitting from rich natural resources.

    First to exit the bloc: Mauritania

    Arabic-speaking Mauritania was one of the founding members of ECOWAS in 1975 and decided to withdraw in December 2000. Mauritania signed a new associate-membership agreement in August 2017.

    ECOWAS Revised Treaty

    Withdrawal under Chapter XXII – General and final provisions Article 91

    1. Any Member State wishing to withdraw from the community shall give to the Executive Secretary one year’s notice in writing who shall inform Member States thereof. At the expiration of this period, if such notice is not withdrawn, such a state shall cease to be a member of the community.

    2. During the period of one year referred to in the preceding paragraph, such a member state shall continue to comply with the provisions of this treaty and shall remain bound to discharge its obligations under this treaty.

  • Terrorists kill 100 in Burkina Faso attack

    Terrorists kill 100 in Burkina Faso attack

    The European Union has called for an investigation into the reported killing of around 100 people in Burkina Faso last week.

     ”Around 100 civilians, including women and children, were believed killed in a massacre,” said EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in a statement.

     The United States has also condemned the attack.

     It is not clear who was behind the November 6 attack in the village of Zaongo.

     Borrell called on Burkina Faso’s military junta to shed light on the circumstances of the deaths. It has not yet responded.

     Burkina Faso is trying to contain a jihadist insurgency that spread from neighbouring Mali.

     The military government has been forcing civilians to join the fight against the Islamist groups, who are said to control about 40% of the country.

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     About a quarter of Burkina Faso’s schools have been forced to close because of the insurgency, according to aid agencies.

     One resident told the AFP news agency that Zaongo was one of the few villages in the area not to have been “emptied out by the terrorists”.

     ”Some suspected the inhabitants of collaborating with them,” the resident said.

     The army seized power last year, vowing to stop the jihadist attacks. If anything, the number of deaths has since increased.

    Last year was the country’s most deadly on record, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), with more than 1,400 civilian deaths.

    So far this year, almost 8,000 people have been reported killed due to violence in the country, Acled said.

  • Games Final: Leave no room for mistakes Aigbogun warns F/Eagles

    Ahead of Friday’s battle for Gold against Burkina Faso at the ongoing  Africa Games in Rabat, Flying Eagles head Coach Paul Aigbogun has told his boys to resist the temptation to leave any room for mistakes that can be capitalised upon.

    He praised the boys for rising to the occasion so far by making it all the way to the finals, but added that everything must be done to end on a golden note.

    “You have done well so far but the battle is not finished.  We must all work very hard in this last game to carry the day,” he submitted.

    Aigbogun who led the team to unimpressive run at the recently held FIFA U-20 World cup in Poland insisted that emerging victorious in Rabat will be a bit of a consolation.

    F/ Eagles technical crew , full of expectations

    Friday opponents Burkina Faso created an upset by defeating defending champions Senegal in the second match on Tuesday, holding the young Teranga Lions 1-1 before emerging victorious on 5-4 penalty same margin with which Nigeria defeated Mali.

    Senegal and Mali will slug it out today (Thursday) in the third place or Bronze medal match.

    It is the second meeting between the two sides who had earlier clashed in the group stage in a goalless draw. Some analysts have predicted that today’s bronze match will be full of fireworks as both teams fight to avoid missing the medals podium.

    Interestingly Nigeria and Burkina Faso will settle for Gold and Silver respectively on Friday, had equally met in the group stage with the encounter ending 1-1.

    The duo of Ahmad Ghali and Kalifa Nikiema who scored for their sides in the encounter will be hoping to replicate their performance on Friday.

    The Nigeria versus Burkina Faso match will come up at 5pm.

  • Nigeria, 14 ECOWAS states to benefit from $8m forest protection project

    The Food Agricultural Organisation(FAO) announced on Tuesday that Nigeria and 14 other ECOWAS members are to benefit from an eight-million-dollar five-year forest protection project.

    The world body said that three agencies, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), FAO and ECOWAS had joined forces to protect West Africa’s forests to help safeguard the livelihoods of millions of people, depending on them.

    In a document reviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the organisation named Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ghana and other ECOWAS states as the beneficiaries of the planned support programme.

    It said the three institutions would carry out project, aimed at strengthening sustainable forest and land management.

    They would also address trans-boundary forest threats to maximise the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

    Tiina Vahanen, FAO’s Chief of Forestry Policy and Resources Division, said the project would be key to the rolling out of the ECOWAS-led Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa.

    ”The ECOWAS-led Convergence Plan was adopted in 2013 by ECOWAS. It seeks to mobilise support to address trans-boundary forest issues across the 15-member states.

    He described the project as a concrete step towards improving the forest management in the region that would build on the momentum created in recent years to safeguard West Africa’s forests.

    Mr Ulla Andrén, Sida’s Head of Regional Development Cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa, said the project to be implemented by ECOWAS would be financed by Sida with over eight million dollars while the FAO would give technical support.

    He described the project as not only important for the people and governments of the region but also crucial for the global effort to stop climate change and loss of bio-diversity.

    Andrén expressed the pleasure of his organisation to be partners with ECOWAS and FAO on trans-boundary forest management in West Africa.

    Johnson Boanuh, ECOWAS Commission’s Environment Director, noted that West Africa’s forests and wetlands were an important source of livelihood for millions of people.

    Read Also: ECOWAS Bank to raise 25b francs in Q1

    He pointed out that about 72 million hectares were under treat.

    According to him, the forests and wetlands are also home to a wide range of vulnerable endemic animal species and more than 200 plant species.

    ”They are exceedingly affected by deforestation and degradation caused by various drivers, including unsustainable agricultural expansion and illegal logging.

    ”These are often exacerbated by trans-boundary issues such as trade between regions or within a region, which require strengthened forest governance and capacity at a regional level.

    ”The loss of forest cover in West Africa was four times higher between 1990 to 2015 than at the global level,’’ he said.

    ECOWAS Director said the project would develop a regional knowledge portal to improve access to data and share information on best forest management practices.

    ”It will also provide legal recommendations and guidelines on forest management, support community groups to implement sustainable forest and land management and build global capacity.

    ”The project will also support the implementation of other national and international commitments of West African countries, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals,’’ he said.

     

  • Gunmen kill 10 gendarmes in Burkina Faso

    Gunmen killed 10 Burkinabe gendarmes in a village near the Malian border this week, Burkina Faso’s security ministry said.

    The assailants attacked and set fire to a school on Wednesday night in Loroni, a village about 250 km (155 miles) Northwest of the capital Ouagadougou, the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

    Two patrols of gendarmes, or military police, were sent to arrest the attackers but ran into an ambush on Thursday morning that killed 10 of them and wounded an unknown number of others, it said.

    The attack was a further sign of deteriorating security in a country once seen as one of the region’s more stable.

    Security has worsened in Burkina Faso in recent months, primarily due to Islamist militant attacks near the landlocked country’s porous border with Mali.

    Ouagadougou has also been hit by several major attacks over the past three years.

    Thousands of people have fled their home as a result of the attacks and reprisals by Burkinabe security forces, Human Rights Watch reported in May.

    Violence in West Africa’s semi-arid Sahel region continues to mount five years after France intervened in Mali, a former French colony, to drive back Islamist militants who had seized the country’s desert North.

    France retains about 4,000 troops deployed across its former colonies in the arid Sahel region as part of the anti-terror Operation Barkhane.

  • Nigeria contributes $710m to ECOWAS, more than 13 countries

    Nigeria has contributed more money to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) than 13 other Members states put together in the last 12 years, statistics have shown.

    Statistics on payment of the Community Levy obtained by our correspondent showed that between 2003 and 2015, Nigeria paid $710, 497,352, equivalent to 480, 355,205 West Africa Units of Account (UA).

    The West Africa UA is the official nominal monetary unit of measure or currency used to represent the real value.

    The document was presented by the ECOWAS Commission as part of the Status of the Community report during an Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

    In the same period, 13 other countries contributed a cumulative amount of 697. 947 million dollars.

    The countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal Sierra Leone and Togo.

    Out of the 13 countries mentioned, Guinea Bissau contributed the least amount of 3. 107 million dollars followed by The Gambia with 11. 171 million dollars and Cabo Verde with 12.879 million dollars.

    Within the period, Sierra Leone contributed 19. 632 million; Liberia 29. 988 million dollars,; Guinea 31. 101 million; Niger 37. 788 million ,; Togo $48. 961 and Cote d’Ivoire $54. 173 million.

    Benin Republic contributed a total of $76. 147 million; Mali paid $93. 538 million; Burkina Faso with $105. 278 million; while Senegal paid $174. 177 million.

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    The highest paying country after Nigeria is Ghana which paid $327. 976 million within the same period.

    According to the statistics, a total of $1. 736 billion was contributed within the period by all 15 member states, with Nigeria paying 40.9 per cent of the amount.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget for each financial year is met by the member states through their contributions to the Community Levy, a 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS countries.

    The national customs administrations of member states are responsible for “assessment and collection” of the levy and daily record “accounts of amounts received”.

    However, the contributions by Nigeria is not equivalent to the weight it pulls in the sub-regional body, especially in the Parliament.

    For instance, out of the 35 seats allocated to Nigeria in the Parliament, many of the representatives are usually absent during plenary.

    At the plenary in May 2018, only four members out of 35 were present on the day Nigeria presented its Country Report.

    Also, during its recent ongoing Second Ordinary Session, less than 10 were present for the aforementioned presentation.

    The absenteeism by Nigerians also got the attention the Bureau of Parliament and other members who expressed displeasure at the attitude of the Nigerians.

    Some representatives from Nigeria also admitted that the attitude had become worrisome and needed to be addressed.

    Hon. Shehu Garba who briefed newsmen after the presentation by Nigeria at the on-going session, said that it was time the leadership of the delegation intervened and deployed people who had time for parliament’s activities.

  • INAC Expo: 27 countries, others showcase culture

    27 countries and states  were  in Abuja to display  their culture,  arts and crafts at the 11th edition of International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo.

    Among the participating countries were China, Hungary, Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Chad, India, Iran, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Sudan and many other countries.

    The impressive event was also an opportunity for many unemployed Nigerians to acquire free vocational training in arts and craft. The event  was declared open by the publisher of the Abuja-based Leadership newspapers, Mr. Sam Ndah-Isaiah. Also present at the opening ceremony were the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Abubakar; the Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji  Lai Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Gekpe; and a representative of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.

    Delivering a paper titled: Networking for Arts and Crafts to the World: Prospects and Challenges, the Chief Executive Officer of Le Look Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa,  called on Nigerians to embrace the nation’s art and craft industry as a commercial venture.

    She said African art and craft industry is currently enjoying huge international acceptability and has the prospects of not only alleviating poverty, but also creating jobs. Ezenwa said  at the time she started the production of Afrocentric crafts as beauty items, European designers were the order of the day in Nigeria. But this has changed with the current huge demand for African crafts.

    Her words: “At the time we started, the prospects were not there then, as our products were competing against famous and infamous international labels. Our women    and men were preoccupied in wearing European and Western outfits. Over time, as we approached a new millennium, things began to change. Afrobeat through Fela, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and other famous musicians started making waves outside the Nigerian shores.

    “We, on our part, invested in research to understand how and what was accepted internationally. We embraced training; we attended fairs locally and internationally. We became visible and could no longer be ignored by our own Nigerians as the Made in Nigeria campaign became the order of the day.

    “Then came the boom-Made in Nigeria, Made in Africa, the ankara revolution that we had already keyed into a long time ago and waited for the opportunity.”

    Ezenwa said Nigeria has never had the opportunity that it is having currently to expand its arts and craft to all parts of the world.

    In his welcome address, the Director- General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, said even though the arts of craft expo  was in its 11th edition, he saw the need to drastically improve on the expo by not limiting it to the just Africa.

    He said:“This flagship programme of the NCAC was conceived in 2008 as a platform for craft men and women all over Africa and beyond to make contact, interact, showcase their arts and crafts products , exchange ideas and skills, network for investment partners.

    “I am delighted to note that this exposition has lived up to the expectation of bringing about regional integration, continental unity as well as unveiling the economic opportunities in the arts and crafts sector.”

    Runsewe said the decision to change the expo’s name from African Festival of Arts and Culture (AFAC) Expo to International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo was taken last year in view of the growing popularity and the need to reflect the global relevance and outlook of the programme. He said having consolidated itself as at the regional level, it became imperative to launch into the global arena so that Nigerian craft men could network with the world.

    Speaking on the expo and their participation, the head  of the Bangladesh  from their country’s embassy in  Nigeria, Mr. Yamin Khan, said:  “The main aim of our participation is that we don’t want to stagnate in a certain place. We want to expand our traditional craft. We want to expand our traditional craft to everywhere.”

    Asked if he was satisfied with the organization and level of participation at the expo, he said: “Of course, there are many booths here. We can share with each other. It is through this kind of programme that we can share with each other.  What we are having, they can pick from us and what we are not having, we can pick from them.  This is the way to go. This is the way to show your craft and your products. This way, it will help you to expand your business all over the world.”

    Some of the participating countries took time out to celebrate their day and showcase their culture. Among these countries was the People’s Republic of China which put up a beautiful show to the admiration and satisfaction of visitors and participants.

  • Garba assures of Golden Eaglets’ victory over Cote d’ Voire

    Manu Garba, coach of the Golden Eaglets on Tuesday assured that his team would beat Cote d’ Voire in the WAFU Zone B qualifiers on Thursday, Sept 6.
    Garba told the News men in a telephone interview that the victory in the second group match was important to keep the hope of qualifying for the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania alive.
    “God’s willing, we shall beat Cote d’ Voire to keep hope alive,” Garba said.
    He said that the team must win the remaining two games having lost the first match to Burkina Faso.
    The Golden Eaglets made an unimpressive start losing 3-2 to Burkina Faso at the Stade Municipal in Niger on Monday.

    Read Also: Manu Garba tips Eaglets for glory

    Within a space of six minutes after kickoff, Abdoul Komi and Jean Fiacre Kouame handed Burkina Faso a two-goal lead as Manu Garba’s boys were made to pay for their poor defending.
    But the Eaglets equalised before half-time break, thanks to Olakunle Olusegun’s brace. Mubarak Compaore scored the winning goal four minutes from full time.
    Nigeria must win their last two games against Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-final.

  • WAFU B U17: Eaglets arrive Niamey face B/Faso Monday

    The Nation under 17 side, Golden Eaglets arrived Niamey Friday ahead of their opening match against Burkina Faso on Monday. The tournament serves as qualifier for the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations.

    A total of 16 players and members of the technical crew and backroom staff departed Abuja aboard an ASKY airline flight on Friday morning. The remaining four players as well as Head Coach Manu Garba and Team Administrator Sirajo Hassan, who could not travel on Friday as there were not enough seats available on the flight, will fly from Abuja on Saturday morning.

    A new format approved for the competition at the CAF Extra-Ordinary General Assembly which took place in Rabat 13 months ago means countries in each regional block gather in one country within the block to play a qualifying tournament, as against the old format of home-and-away qualifying series.

    Only the winning team from each of the blocks (apart from the block of the defending champions that will produce two teams) will qualify for the final tournament, slated for Tanzania next year.

    The Eaglets will play their first match of the tournament on Monday, against their Burkina Faso counterparts, before taking on Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday and Benin Republic next week Sunday. Host Niger Republic will trade tackles with Ghana’s Black Starlets and the Baby Hawks of Togo in the 7 –Nation WAFU Zone B.

    Five of the 20 players selected for the tournament by Head Coach Manu Garba (who led Nigeria to win the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates five years ago) are from the U15 National Team, otherwise known as Future

    20 EAGLETS FOR WAFU B TOURNEY

    Goalkeepers: John Ikedinachukwu Amah, Joseph John Essien, Joseph Ayomide Oluwabusola

    Defenders: David Akulo Ishaya, Sunday Cletus Odey, Clement Chigozie Ikenna, Sani Abacha Suleiman, Muhammad Ibrahim, Adam Agba’a Mustapha

    Midfielders: Samson Okikiola Tijani, Hassan Hussaini, Saviour Johnson Isaac, Olatomi Alfred Olaniyan, Peter Agba, Babatunde Jimoh Akinsola, Ibraheem Olalekan Jabaar, Akinwunmi Ayobami Amoo

    Forwards: Oluwatimilehin Lawrence Adeniyi, Olakunle Olusegun Junior, Favour Akem

  • Africa has chosen China – Burkina Faso president

    Burkina Faso will strengthen cooperation with China in all areas as Africa-China relations develop for mutual benefit, President Roch Kabore said.

    Kabore, whose country resumed diplomatic ties with Beijing in late May, will pay a state visit to China from Thursday to Sept. 5, during which he will also attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

    “For us, this trip is an important mission as it will help build up and consolidate the two countries’ relationship, which is founded on win-win, legal and transparency principles,” Kabore said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    The president said it will also help the two sides select priorities and see how they can make headway together.

    “We expect to reinforce cooperation with China in all areas,” he said, expecting a partnership “as broad as possible.”

    As for China’s relations with all of Africa, Kabore said Africa-China cooperation is based on the principles of mutual benefit, equal opportunity and the need to develop international trade.

    “We don’t have any regrets about this existing China-Africa cooperation, which is developing day by day in favor of our respective peoples,” he said.

    Read Also: Burkina Faso seeks new partner for $1b manganese project

    “Africa has chosen China … It is our choice and we stick to that.”

    He said Africa can learn from China’s success in developing into the second largest economy in the world, and the China-championed notion of building a community with a shared future for mankind will promote Africa-China ties.

    Kabore called the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative a “sound initiative” intended to develop infrastructure links and boost trade between different countries.

    “I think it is an initiative that should be supported,” he said, adding that it will probably take some time but is an initiative “which is necessary if we want to develop international trade.”

    Regarding the rising protectionism and unilateralism in the world, the president said the upcoming China-Africa summit “shows the interest of multilateralism.”

    “This is what we have always defended together because protectionism in our current times raises problems as it is a real threat to international and world peace,” he said.

    “Therefore, the holding of this summit is a real success as we tell supporters of protectionist policies that we have opted for multilateralism.”