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Burkina Faso’s prime minister visited neighboring Mali this week and proposed that the two countries form a “federation” to increase their economic clout, his office said.
Both countries are fighting jihadist insurgency and are run by military governments that have turned away from their former colonial rulers, France.
Prime Minister Apollinaire Kilem de TambĂ©ra said in an official report of the visit released by his office on Thursday that “a flexible federation that reinforces each other and respects the aspirations of both sides can be created”. rice field.
“Mali is a major producer of cotton, cattle and gold. Burkina Faso also produces cotton, cattle and gold.”
“As long as we go our separate ways, we don’t have much influence. But if you combine the cotton, gold and cattle production of Mali and Burkina Faso, it will be a powerhouse.”
Kyelem de Tambela noted past efforts to form a federation in francophone West Africa. Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin attempted to unite a federation shortly before his 1960 independence from France, but failed.
“Our ancestors tried to create a group like the Mali Federation, but unfortunately it didn’t last long. But they showed us the way,” he said.
“One of the reasons I go to Mali is because I often look for solutions elsewhere for a long time, even though the solutions are right there in front of me,” he continued.
The two landlocked Sahelian nations are among the poorest and most unstable nations in the world, and have seen little peace since independence.
They are also fighting a brutal jihadist rebellion that has claimed thousands of lives, forced more than two million people from their homes, and prompted a military takeover of elected governments.
Both countries expelled French troops, who were frustrated by their inability to defeat the insurgents.
Kylem de Tambella has hailed a ‘genuine revolution’ in Mali since Colonel Asimi Goita took power in 2020, which has ‘inspired’ Burkina’s new military ruler said.
Burkina Faso and Mali have each witnessed two military coups since 2020 and are under pressure from the international community to return to democratic civil rule.
“We should start creating a new federation now before power returns to the civilian population, because it will be difficult when politicians return,” said Kylem de Tamberra.
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