COTE d’Ivoire has firmly rejected allegations made by Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, of attempting to destabilise its neighbour. These accusations emerged amidst heightened diplomatic tensions in West Africa, where military leaders from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger recently formed the Alliance of Sahel States and severed ties with the regional bloc ECOWAS.
In a recent speech, Traore accused Côte d’Ivoire of hosting operations aimed at undermining Burkina Faso’s sovereignty. However, Côte d’Ivoire’s ruling party spokesperson, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, dismissed these claims during a press briefing, stating, ‘Côte d’Ivoire has no problem with the countries that surround us – on the contrary, they are our brothers and sisters.’
Adjoumani emphasised Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a refuge for those facing difficulties in their own countries, highlighting the nation’s establishment of refugee camps for Burkinabe citizens fleeing insurgent violence in the Sahel. He added, ‘We are a country of peace, a country of hospitality, the promised land where all those who feel persecuted in their country can come.’
Traore, who prioritises Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and has distanced his country from former colonial ruler France, criticised Côte d’Ivoire for maintaining its alliance with Paris. He also accused Benin of hosting French military bases, further straining regional relations.
Despite these accusations, Côte d’Ivoire reiterated its commitment to peace and called for stability in Burkina Faso, urging prayers for the return of democratic elections and an end to coups in the region.
