On September 25, 2026, Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE, met with Alexandre ZOUEV, Acting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism. The meeting reviewed the partnership between Burkina Faso and the UN office, which provides support to the country in its fight against terrorism. The UN office helps strengthen the operational capacities of actors involved in this fight.
The UN official reiterated his office's commitment to continuing its support for Burkina Faso in counter-terrorism investigations and other collaboration programs. The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for the collaboration with the UN Office on Counter-Terrorism. However, he noted that lessons learned from past experiences highlight the need to focus on prevention to prevent young people from joining terrorist groups.
Minister TRAORE emphasized the importance of a more comprehensive approach to fighting terrorism, involving multiple actors. He expressed his indignation at the international community's tacit endorsement of terrorist groups, either through silence or by providing them with platforms for expression. The Minister cited the example of the JNIM terrorist group associating with a separatist group to attack Mali in April.
The Minister noted that the international community's silence in the face of such actions is surprising, particularly for countries in the AES Confederation. He described this silence as a form of tacit endorsement, allowing terrorist groups to benefit from media attention despite their responsibility for numerous deaths in several countries.
The JNIM terrorist group has been responsible for the deaths of children, women, and men in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and other countries. The Minister called on the international community to take greater responsibility in the face of such instrumentalization of terrorist groups. He emphasized the need for a more unified and effective response to terrorism.
The meeting between Minister TRAORE and Mr. ZOUEV highlights the ongoing efforts of Burkina Faso to strengthen its fight against terrorism. The country's Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of international cooperation in preventing the spread of terrorism and promoting peace and stability in the region.
The international community has been urged to take a more proactive and responsible stance in addressing the threat of terrorism. Burkina Faso and other countries in the region continue to face significant challenges in their fight against terrorist groups, and a more unified and effective response is needed to address this threat.
Key points
- Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister criticizes international community for tacitly endorsing terrorist groups
- The Minister emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive approach to fighting terrorism
- The international community is urged to take greater responsibility in addressing the threat of terrorism
