West african leaders criticize nigerian president’s security remarks

Following Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent comments on security challenges in the Sahel region, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré met on Thursday with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou. The meeting was attended by the Chargés d’Affaires from Mali and Niger, reflecting the unified stance of the three Alliance of Sahel States (AES) member countries.

The Burkina Faso Foreign Ministry confirmed the gathering in a statement released Friday. The diplomatic move comes after President Tinubu, speaking to Nigerian traditional leaders on July 30, linked the surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks in Nigeria to what he described as the “collapse” of security in neighboring Sahel nations.

“Some of these terrorists are not Nigerians. You see, the security problems in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are making our own situation worse,” President Tinubu told the gathering, according to the ministry’s account.

Burkina Faso’s top diplomat condemned this interpretation, stating it “ignores the immense sacrifices” made daily by defense and security forces as well as civilians in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the fight against terrorism. He emphasized that the AES countries have consistently avoided public accusations against Nigeria despite documented links between Boko Haram and certain Sahel-based terrorist groups.

“The AES nations and Nigeria share a common enemy. The security gains achieved by our forces benefit the entire subregion, including Nigeria, by restricting terrorist mobility and operational capacity,” he asserted.

The Burkinabe official criticized the Nigerian leader’s remarks as “oversimplified and surprising,” warning they risk fostering misunderstandings and resentment among historically and geographically connected peoples. He highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing battle against Boko Haram as evidence that terrorism predates the AES alliance.

Traoré urged Nigerian authorities to adopt unifying and solidarity-driven rhetoric, rather than statements that could deepen divisions. The Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires, present at the meeting, acknowledged receiving the message and pledged to relay it accurately to Abuja authorities, the ministry confirmed.