Ln February 18, 2022, we witnessed what can be called the response of the shepherd to the shepherdess. Before the AU summit, the Burkina Faso-Mali and Guinea trio launched a sort of lobbying campaign with the AU for the lifting of the sanctions that weighed on them. On arrival, it was ECOWAS which toughened its tone, banning all members of the government and senior executives concerned from travel. What happened ? This front, according to some observers, would have hurt the ego of the ECOWAS leaders, by addressing the AU directly for the lifting of sanctions.
Knowing that the ECOWAS sanctions are gradual and their lifting subject to conditions, in particular, a rapid exit from the Transition through elections. It can therefore be concluded that ECOWAS no longer has confidence in the proposed agenda which provides for elections in July 2024, as far as Burkina Faso is concerned. For ECOWAS, we can continue to wage war and respect the timetable for elections.
The discourse of the Transition is war first and she is right. But, in diplomacy, when you give your word, you stick to it as far as possible until proven otherwise. These new sanctions will increase our diplomatic isolation and this is not good news for a country that needs support.
Par Abdoulaye TAO