Burkina Faso - Q&A from the press briefing (15 December 2022)

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Q: Yesterday the President of Ghana mentioned an agreement between Burkina Faso and the Wagner Group. Does France have any information about this? If so, how might it jeopardize your relationship with Burkina Faso?

A: As you know, we have expressed our readiness, as have our European partners, to continue our cooperation with Burkina Faso, if that is what the authorities of that country clearly want, at a time when the security and humanitarian situation in that country are visibly deteriorating. As far as Wagner is concerned, we have made our message quite clear. Wagner’s presence in Africa is characterized by predatory behavior and looting, and it undermines the national sovereignty of African nations. That situation is common knowledge: the Wagner militia has exhibited this conduct in Mozambique, the Central African Republic and Mali. The authorities in Burkina Faso are obviously aware of it.

Q: Do you have any information on the fact that Wagner and Burkina Faso allegedly signed an agreement? Or is Paris unaware of that and you don’t know anything about it?

A: I have no information on that subject for you today.