The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela, proposed to neighboring Mali the formation of a federation, to increase its political and economic influence with international partners.
Both nations are fighting jihadist insurgencies and are run by military junta that have split from France. "We could create a flexible federation that reinforces each other and respects the aspirations of both sides," said Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela.
"Mali is a big producer of cotton, cattle and gold. Burkina Faso also produces cotton, cattle and gold," said Kyelem from Tambela. "As long as we each go our separate ways, we won't have much influence.
But if you put together the cotton, gold and cattle production of Mali and Burkina Faso, it becomes a powerhouse."
Kyelem de Tambela referred to an earlier effort to form a federation in French-speaking West Africa - an unsuccessful attempt to bring together Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin just before they gained independence from France in 1960.
"Our ancestors tried to create groupings, like the Federation of Mali, which unfortunately did not last.
But they showed us the way," he said. Both nations expelled French forces frustrated by their failure to defeat the military insurgency.
Kyelem de Tambela hailed the "genuine revolution" he said had taken place in Mali since Colonel Assimi Goita took power in 2020 and said it had "inspired" the new military rulers in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso and Mali have witnessed two military coups since 2020 and are under pressure from the international community to return to democratic civilian rule.
Creating a new federation must be done now, before power is handed back to civilians, "because when the politicians come back, it's going to be complicated," said Kyelem de Tambela.
