Russia deemed “unfounded”, Thursday, February 23, the persistent rumors about the presence of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in Burkina Faso, while saying it was “determined” to strengthen its cooperation with this country plagued by renewed jihadist violence .
“As for the rumors around the presumed presence of instructors from a Russian private military company in Burkina Faso, they are baseless,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said in an interview with the agency. release Ria Novosti. Bogdanov cited “media speculation,” “including alleged Russian military assistance to the country,” as Moscow denies the ruling junta in Ouagadougou has asked him for help providing security in some areas. regions.
Videos showing Russian paramilitaries in Burkina Faso have however turned in recent weeks on social networks, but the group led by the sulphurous Evguéni Prigojine has not at this stage confirmed its presence in the country. In early February, the head of the ruling military junta in Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, also denied the presence of Wagner’s mercenaries in his country.
In the Central African Republic and Mali
Anxious to regain its “sovereignty” in the fight against jihadists, the Burkinabe junta in January asked the French “Sabre” force, made up of 400 special forces soldiers, to leave the country after fourteen years of presence. Asked about the withdrawal of the French, Mikhail Bogdanov judged that it “does not risk seriously affecting the security situation” in the country. Among the new partners envisaged, Ouagadougou regularly mentions the strengthening of its partnership with Russia, as its Malian neighbor has done.
Russia intends to “actively participate in collective efforts to stabilize the situation in Burkina Faso,” Bogdanov stressed. “We are determined to develop multifaceted cooperation with Burkina Faso,” he said, noting that “the training of national military personnel in our specialized universities to fight against terrorist groups is of particular importance for the new authorities” .
The Wagner Group, suspected of carrying out dark tasks on behalf of the Kremlin – which denies any direct link with the organization -, has notably established itself in recent years in the Central African Republic and Mali – although Bamako denies it -, each time thanks to the withdrawal of the French forces deployed on the spot, testifying to Moscow’s desire to extend its influence instead of Paris.
