FM Minister: Morocco Fully Supports Burkina Faso’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Rabat – Morocco fully supports Burkina Faso in its relentless efforts to combat the scourges of extremism and terrorism and eradicate their roots from the country, Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita said on Friday.

Speaking during a joint press conference with his Burkinabe counterpart, Olivia Ragnaguenyindi Rouamba, Bourita condemned and strongly denounced the “cowardly” terrorist attacks that Burkina Faso has faced over the past months and years.

The terrorist acts contradict the reputation of “the land of honorable people” known for its tolerance and coexistence, which has always been considered an exemplary model, Bourita stressed. Morocco’s chief diplomat made the remarks on the sidelines of the fourth session of the Joint Committee between Morocco and Burkina Faso.

Bourita explained that Burkina Faso’s current situation is closely linked to the prevailing instability in the Sahel and Sahara region, where armed groups and terrorist organizations have found favorable conditions to strengthen their presence.

Extrait de la déclaration de M. Nasser Bourita lors du point de presse conjoint avec son homologue du Burkina Faso, Mme Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba, à l’issue de la 4e session de la Commission mixte – . pic.twitter.com/ke9d2KtXLL

— Maroc Diplomatie (@MarocDiplomatie) June 9, 2023

Burkina Faso is going through a period of political upheaval, with attacks by armed insurgent groups claiming many civilian lives over the past years. The landlocked nation experienced two coups in 2022, and it is also facing significant security issues from terrorist groups active in the Sahel Region.

More than 60% of terrorist attacks worldwide occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, he noted, adding that the number of victims of terrorist attacks in this region exceeds the combined number of victims in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“Today, there are at least 12 terrorist groups active in the Sahel and Sahara region, forming alliances with 19 separatist groups that threaten the territorial integrity of African countries,” Bourita detailed.

According to the top Moroccan diplomat, the proliferation of terrorism in Africa is a global issue. He pointed out that Burkina Faso, which finds itself at the forefront of the continent’s fight against violent extremism, needs support and assistance because the fight against terrorism in this country will have an impact on both the Sahel and West Africa regions.

Morocco, which placed combating extremism and countering terrorism among its top priorities, consistently calls on the international community to prioritize the fight against terrorism and supports African countries in adopting counter-terrorism measures, he explained.

Bourita further stated that Morocco is closely following the progress of the transitional process in Burkina Faso and has full confidence in the Burkinabe leadership’s ability to handle all developments wisely and in the best interest of the nation.

He affirmed that what President Ibrahim Traore has accomplished in recent months is essential for enhancing stability and revitalizing the development process in the West African country.

Arguing that the transitional process is moving in the right direction, Bourita emphasized that Morocco always sees elections not as an end in themselves but as a means to achieve stability.