A frontal indictment against the African Union

 À Ouagadougou, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo delivered a straightforward message to the President of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. The Burkinabe Prime Minister called à a refoundation of the continental organization. He believes that the AU must better defend the interests of African people. His question, « Is the African Union truly a union? Is she truly African? », summarizes the political significance of his remarks. 

The Sahel at the heart of criticism

The head of the Burkinabe governmentè especially denounced what he considers to be the silence of the organization in the face of the security crisis in the Sahel. For Ouagadougou, the current conflict is not only a matter of terrorism, but of a « recolonization war ». This reading is in line with the sovereignist line defended by the Burkinabé authorities. for several years. It places the security issue at the center of the debate on the effectiveness of technology. reality of the African Union.

Financial dependence singled out

Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo also criticized the financial dependence of the AU on external partners. For him, an organization financed largely by foreign powers cannot fully embody international sovereignty. African. This criticism targets an old but still sensitive subject: the ability to from the continent to finance its own institutions. Ouagadougou thus calls for an African Union that is less dependent, more autonomous and more aligned with African priorities.

A visit to strong diplomatic reach

 The presence of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf at the Ouagadougou gives a continental dimension to this sequence. Burkina Faso, committed to in a political transition and faced with à a major security crisis, seeks to impose its narrative in African debates. The message sent is clear: the AU must change its posture if it wants to remain credible with the Sahel states. Rest at know if this call will lead to a dialogue of reform or to a new dividing line between Ouagadougou and Addis Ababa.

Can a deeper reformation really make this continental organization more effective according to the desires of the Sahelians?