Burkina Faso gladly accepts Putin’s “priceless gift”
Being one of the world’s largest grain producers, Russia gifts Burkina Faso with 25,000 tonnes of free wheat according to BBC News.
On the 26th of January, the government stated they were “delighted” with the grain delivery calling it a “priceless gift” that would benefit the people who were internally displaced and vulnerable said Nandy Some Diallo, Burkina Faso’s minister for solidarity and humanitarian action.
The isolated European power, which according to US estimates is expected to export about 45 million tonnes of wheat this financial year, has been condemned by a large portion of the international community for waging war in Ukraine.
In response, Russia is seeking to deepen alliances with Africa and elsewhere, which Burkina Faso has gladly accepted.
Ever since the military took power in two successive coups in 2022, ties between Moscow and Ouagadougou have been strengthening.
In December 2023, Russia re-opened its embassy in Burkina Faso after closing since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso has been putting distance between itself and former colonial power France. Last year Burkina Faso ordered its troops to leave.
READ: France blocks visas to students from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger
Russian President, Vladimir Putin promised to send Burkina Faso thousands of tonnes of wheat for free during a summit in St Petersburg in 2023.
According to UN data, around a quarter of all children under five have stunted growth in Burkina Faso and more than three million people face discerning food shortages. Humanitarians name the West African nation as one of the world’s most neglected crises.
Burkina Faso has been battling for over a year with Islamist rebellions that have forced more than two million people from their homes. Due to the ongoing danger and risk to the children, one in four schools have closed.
On top of the threat of danger, the military has failed to deliver on its promises to tackle Islamist militants, despite citizens welcoming them after the military coup in 2022 hoping for an end to the violence.
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré stated that the grain consignment from Russia would help to push his nation towards “developing our own production capacity in order to halt nice and for all, dependence on food from abroad”.
During mid-January 2024, reports flooded about a contingent of Russian troops that had arrived in Burkina Faso.
As less than a quarter of Burkina Faso’s population has access to electricity, the country signed a deal with Russia in July 2023 for the construction of a nuclear power plant to increase its energy supply.
READ: Egypt and Russia finalise Dabaa nuclear power deal
There has been a rise in recent months of Russian-sponsored disinformation as well as Russian influence in matters of economics, diplomacy and defence. Russia has consistently denied such allegations in the past.
Burkina Faso, which is rich in gold and other minerals, has denied reports it paid Russian mercenary fighters by giving them rights to mines in the country.
BBC News.
