The foreign affairs chief of Burkina Faso, Jean Marie Traoré, summoned Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Ouagadougou following remarks made by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu regarding alleged security challenges in the three-member Confederation of Sahel States (AES). The meeting, held on August 7, included representatives from Mali and Niger to underscore a shared stance on the matter.

The incident traces back to July 30, when Tinubu reportedly linked Nigeria’s rising terror attacks and kidnappings to deteriorating security conditions in AES countries. Traoré, speaking on behalf of all three nations, voiced “profound regret” over what he described as an oversimplified and misleading assessment of the situation.

“We expected a more nuanced presentation of regional security dynamics,” Traoré stated. “Blame cannot be placed on neighboring countries without addressing the root causes of instability. Such statements risk deepening misunderstanding and frustration among peoples bound by history, geography, and shared destiny.”

He emphasized that while AES nations bear the consequences of insecurity, the true adversaries lie elsewhere. “We are not responsible for our challenges, but we are paying the price. Our enemies are not among us—we must stand as brothers united against a common threat.”

The Burkina Faso minister clarified that the AES response was not an act of confrontation, but a call for frank dialogue and genuine cooperation to tackle regional terrorism sustainably. “Only through sincere collaboration can we overcome the security hurdles facing our subregion.”

The Nigerian representative acknowledged the AES ministers’ message, pledging to relay it to Abuja. He commended their commitment to dialogue and solidarity in combating terrorism, while acknowledging the AES’s ongoing efforts against the scourge.