Burkina Faso's Prime Minister, Apollinaire Kiélem de Tembela, has asked France for "
weapons and ammunition
" for army auxiliaries who are helping him in his fight against the jihadists, according to an article by his communication service. .
During a meeting on Tuesday with Luc Hallade, French Ambassador to Ouagadougou, the Prime Minister "
stressed that the partners' efforts must focus on the deep aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso, a people committed to defending themselves for freedom, against barbarism and terrorism
,” says this article, a copy of which AFP obtained on Thursday.
“France could help this popular resistance”
"
This is what justifies the launch of the recruitment operation of 50,000 Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP)
", the auxiliaries of the army, he explained, adding: "
France could help this popular resistance by providing arms and ammunition and also taking into account the financial support of the brave fighters
”.
To
Mr. Hallade's "
concerns " "
as to the impossibility for French NGOs based in Burkina Faso to travel to the field for their activities
", Mr. Kyelem de Tembela replied: "
That is the reason why you must help us to have the necessary equipment to overcome terrorism
”.
“
The Burkinabè are looking for a lifeline for their country and if this lifeline must come from another country other than France, why not?
", he added.
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The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso also affirmed during this meeting that "
Burkina Faso has been cornered for six years and nobody is moved
".
He considered that France “
has shown a different solicitude when it came to helping Ukraine in the recent conflict between it and Russia
”.
At the end of his meeting with Kyélem de Tembela, Luc Hallade felt that Apollinaire that everyone had " an
interest
" in Burkina being prey to jihadist violence "
staying upright
",
The VDPs are paying a heavy price in the jihadist attacks by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State which regularly strike Burkina Faso, particularly in the north and east.
Since 2015, Burkinabè civilians and soldiers have been regularly bereaved by increasingly frequent jihadist attacks, particularly in the north and east, which have killed thousands and forced some two million people to flee their homes.