Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger condemn Tinubu for wetin e tok about regional security
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger don sharply caution Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on top comments wey e make wey e blame di worsening insecurity for Nigeria partly on di "collapse" of security for neighbouring Sahel states.
Di three kontris, wey make up di Alliance of Sahel States, (AES) bin summon Nigeria charge d affaires to Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou, on Thursday, and accuse im president say e present "inaccurate" view of events for di region wia attacks by jihadists dey mount.
Nigerian leader bin make di observation as e dey address traditional rulers for Nigeria on 30th July, as e dey explain why insecurity don increase across di kontri.
"Some of dem [di terrorists] no be Nigerians. You see, di problem of insecurity for Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger dey worsen our difficulties".
Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré wey tok on behalf of di three states, tok say dem regret di remarks of di Nigerian leader, wey for im view, ignore di sacrifices of dia soldiers and civilians.
"Na rapid, very simplistic and surprising analysis," Oga Traoré tok, according to di statement.
E tok say di AES countries (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) bin expect Nigeria, as neighbouring country wey dey face di same security threat, to present di security situation more accurately, instead of talking as if na neighbouring countries dey responsible for Nigeria security challenges.
According to am, di three countries feel say Nigeria suppose show beta understanding of di regional security situation and avoid statements wey fit make am look like say all di blame for insecurity for Nigeria dey come from across di borders.
Dem maintain say insecurity na shared challenge wey need cooperation among kontris, no be matter of pointing fingers.
Di comments get di potential to expose tensions between Nigeria and di three AES countries, wey dey increasingly pursue dia own security and political agenda since military govments take ova power for all three states.
E observe say Niger don dey wage wars against Boko Haram insurgents long bifor jihadism take off for Burkina Faso and Mali.
Di foreign minister tok say instead of make di three Sahel countries condemn Nigeria, dem instead choose to engage for "joint and shared fight" wit dia neighbour.
Nigeria chargé d'affaires for Burkina Faso according to tori tok say im don take note of di message and im go faithfully communicate di concerns to authorities for Abuja.
Di diplomat also acknowledge wetin Burkina Faso describe as di "considerable efforts" wey di three AES countries dey do to combat terrorism.
E specifically mention Niger role in stopping attacks wey for target Nigerian territory.
Di meeting between foreign ministers dey come at a time wen Ecowas and di Sahel states dey engage for diplomatic push to consolidate relationships afta military overthrows of democratic govments for di Sahel countries.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger don turn to Moscow for support afta dem declare say Ecowas no dey effective again, and dem come form dia own alliance.
At di same time, Nigeria don continue to position itself as di leading power inside Ecowas and still dey stand gidigba wit di regional bloc, even as di kontri dey battle serious security challenges like jihadist attacks, kidnapping, clashes wey involve herders, and banditry.
For di Sahel countries, dia decision to strengthen ties wit Russia na part of efforts to find alternative security and political partnerships, while Nigeria dey maintain say regional cooperation through Ecowas remains important for peace and stability across West Africa.
Indications dey say di comment wey President Tinubu make fit be sign of bigger disagreements wey dey grow between Nigeria and some of im northern neighbours.
Observers believe say di comments no be only about security matters, but also reflect di different political and diplomatic directions wey Nigeria and di three Sahel countries don take in recent years.
While Nigeria remain committed to Ecowas, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger don distance demsefs from di bloc and form dia own alliance. Dem also don strengthen relations with Russia as part of dia new foreign policy approach.
Nigeria, meanwhile, still remain as leading member of Ecowas and don continue to work wit regional and international partners on counter-terrorism and efforts to contain insecurity across di Lake Chad basin and wider West Africa.
