AFRICOM Commander Backtracks on Earlier Comments After Global Backlash, Admits “There Are A Lot of Great Things Going on in Burkina Faso”
Oluwasegun SanusiMay 28, 20251 Mins read1k 
United States AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley has backtracked on his earlier remarks regarding Burkina Faso’s governance and management of its natural resources. In a visibly “uncomfortable” interview with Kenyan journalist Yvonne Okwara, Langley conceded that “there are a lot of great things going on [in Burkina Faso] to progress them forward,” acknowledging the developmental strides under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s leadership.
Langley’s remarks follow widespread backlash from the Burkinabè government and across Africa, following his April 3 testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. In that hearing, he implied that revenues from Burkina Faso’s mineral wealth and its cooperation with countries like China were primarily being used to consolidate the current regime’s grip on power, rather than benefiting the nation’s people. The Burkinabè government denounced these claims in a strongly worded communiqué dated April 16, labelling them “regrettable” and “gravely inaccurate.”
The comments appeared to be anything but voluntary. According to observers, Langley’s visible discomfort during the interview suggests he may have been compelled to retract his statements due to the global backlash. His tone and body language suggested that the backlash, particularly from the pan-African public, was a contributing factor to his retraction of his earlier statements.
However, Langley tried to maintain a thread of the narrative of military assistance. He subtly reiterated U.S. concerns about the Sahel’s stability and alluded to potential military “assistance,” framing the region as one where “security partnerships remain essential.”
Read Also:
About The Author
%s Comment
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
Senegal Rejects CAF Verdict, Moves to Appeal AFCON Title Decision
A major controversy has erupted in African football after the Confederation of...
Surrogacy in Ghana Marketed at Berlin Fertility Fair Raises Ethical Concerns
A growing controversy is emerging around the global surrogacy industry after a...
Mali Distributes Over CFA 18 Billion Mining Fund to Local Communities
The transitional president of Mali, Assimi Goïta, has handed over more than...
Bandits at the Akure Airport Confirm What Nigerians Already Know About Tinubu’s Government and Its Failures
Terrorism has so deeply infected Nigeria that nowhere is safe anymore. Not...
“Hands of all of Africa!” The govt and peoples of Africa don’t trust the West hypocrites. Learn from our history.
They should snatch Langley’s stars. Go help the USA, it’s democracy is questionable!