AES Parliament Speakers Condemn European Resolution, Pledge Support to Burkina Faso

The Presidents of the Parliaments of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) have adopted a motion of support for Burkina Faso, firmly condemning a resolution passed by the European Parliament on June 18, 2026.

The resolution, titled “Persistence of the repression of civic space and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso,” was rejected by the Burkinabe government, which described it as an “unacceptable interference” rooted in “neocolonial designs” and “inspired by obscure networks in the pay of France.”

During a high-level working meeting in Ouagadougou on June 29 and 30, 2026, the AES Parliament Speakers adopted a motion denouncing the European resolution for presenting an “erroneous situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms” in Burkina Faso. They expressed their “total support, solidarity and fraternity” with the Burkinabe authorities and people in their efforts to defend national sovereignty and restore territorial integrity.

The motion, read by Ibrahim Bana of the Niger delegation, was grounded in the principles of the United Nations Charter, including the respect for the sovereign equality of States, non-interference in internal affairs, and the right of peoples to self-determination. The speakers underscored that the primary fundamental freedom is the right to life, security, and dignity, and that any assessment of Burkina Faso’s situation must recognise the daily sacrifices of its defence and security forces, volunteers, and its people in the fight against terrorism.

The motion also stressed that the fight against terrorism is a global issue requiring international solidarity and sincere cooperation, rather than approaches that weaken States on the front lines. The speakers reaffirmed their commitment to building a sovereign, secure, and prosperous confederal space open to international cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.

This parliamentary support follows a strong diplomatic rebuke from Burkina Faso. On June 22, the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, summoned the EU Ambassador to express his government’s “disapproval, disappointment and disgust” over what he termed a “neocolonialist resolution.” He accused the European Parliament of a “total violation of the right of non-interference” and of showing “contempt” for the efforts of AES states to combat terrorism. He further accused French MEP General Christophe Gomart, the report’s author, of having “soiled the sacredness of the European Parliament” with “neocolonialist rhetoric.”

The Burkinabe government declared the resolution “null and void,” reiterating that the country’s internal and security policies are matters of national sovereignty. It also linked the current Sahel security crisis to the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya, which it said destabilised the region and fueled terrorism and arms proliferation. Despite the rejection, the government affirmed its commitment to “frank and respectful dialogue” with the EU, though it stressed such dialogue cannot thrive in an atmosphere of “condescension” and “injunction.”

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