Burkina Faso’s transitional president Captain Ibrahim Traore said Wednesday that no Russians were currently deployed in the country to fight jihadists but did not rule it out in the future.
Burkina has been caught for several years in a spiral of jihadist violence perpetrated by groups affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, which were already operating against neighbouring Mali and Niger.
Traore, who came to power after a 2022 coup, has focused on a strong security response to the attacks.
“There is no Russian in the field to fight. For the moment, we fight alone, they support us in terms of logistical training, tactical training,” Traore said in an interview broadcast Wednesday on a journalist’s YouTube channel.
“If there’s a need, they will come to the field to fight.”
Traore said the Russian presence in Burkina was limited to instructors who had come to “instruct the military on the equipment”.
Since coming to power in September 2022, the ruling junta has distanced itself from traditional partner France and moved closer to Russia.
Traore said that trainers from other countries including Turkey and China were also present in the West African country.
Burkina, Mali and Niger set up a mutual defence pact, the Alliance of Sahel States, in September and announced on Sunday they were quitting the Economic Community of West African States.
“Our route is a path of no-return. (ECOWAS) is over!” he said.
Asked about elections this year in Burkina, the military leader said security was not yet assured to enable polls to be held.
“Elections concern all Burkina… there must be a minimum of security,” Traore added.
