🇧🇫Karamoko Jean Marie TraoréBurkina Faso · UNGA 81 speech

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It's a real honor to bring from this rostrum the voices of their excellencies, Comrade Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of Faso, Head of State and President of the Confederation of Sahel States, Army General Assimi Goita, President of the Transition, Head of State of the Republic of Mali, and Army General Abdourahmane Tchiani, President of the Republic of Niger, Head of State. On their behalf, the Confederation of Sahel States extends to you, Mr. President, their heartfelt congratulations upon your election to preside over the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. We also extend our wishes of success to you in your turn and fully align with the pride of the kindred people of Bangladesh. To Her Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, we reiterate our positive appreciation of the way she conducted the work of the 18th session. President, it is with my heart full of the memory of thousands of children, women and men from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, innocent victims of terrorism that I am taking the floor here this morning. But it is also with a sense of pride inspired by the resilience of the populations of the Sahel and the hope of the bravery of the defence and security forces of the confederation, as well as the crucial role played by volunteers. for the defence of the homeland that I am speaking here and having the noble mission of delivering this statement. I also wish to pay tribute to the families in mourning, to the long-suffering communities and all of those whose lives have been affected by terrorist barbarism. For more than a decade, this blind and sustained violence has been sustained armed, financed and instrumentalised by criminal networks and their supporters intent on subjugating the Sahel through fear, but they must understand that they will never succeed here. I bow down with profound respect before the memory of the defence and security forces of the Confederation of Sahel States, our volunteers, defence volunteers, working for the motherland and all patriotic forces who have fallen in the field of honour. Evoking their memory, I spare a thought and pay tribute to Army General Sadio Camara, who was assassinated, murdered cowardly on the 24th of April 2026, and pay tribute to his commitment to peace and to Mali and the Sahel. The supreme sacrifice that our heroes have made is a seed of liberty, of justice and sovereignty that our oppressed peoples aspire to. It is the source that nourishes our determination on a daily basis to recover the integrity of our territories, to defend our dignity and to ensure our sacred rights, to live free in peace and security. To the people of the Confederation of the States of the Sahel, including its diaspora, I pay tribute and renew my pride in them. courage, resilience, commitment and mobilization, as they are showing each and every day, supporting the efforts of the heads of state of the AES confederation remain the center of gravity of our journey towards sovereignty and stability and development to all of the peoples of Africa in the world who share our struggle and who recognize themselves and the ideals of peace dignity and liberty that the confederation represents I reiterate my gratitude Mr. president confederal dynamic that has been engaged in and taken up by our states, far from being an act in isolation, brings forward the rejection of fatality and chronic wardship that we face, as well as the reject of selective criticism when we see human tragedies. It's the sign of a shared willingness of our states to escape the vicious cycle of structural domination and exploitation that are profoundly rooted in the colonial and neocolonialist legacies. In it, it carries the hope of a renaissance of the Central Sahel that for too long has been devalued and disregarded. The new course embarked on since the 16th of September 2023 by adopting the charter of Lihta Koguma, consolidated by the creation of the Confederation of Sahel States on the 6th of July 2024, ushered in a new era for the people of the AES. And each area of land recovered, each terrorist base destroyed, each battle won over the forces of evil, each... school recovered, each village rebuilt, each reform initiated, brings us closer to this new horizon defended with determination by Comrade Captain Ibrahim Traore, Army General Assimi Goita, and General Abdourahmane Tiani. Under their enlightened leadership, against the winds and the tides, the Alliance of Sahel States is consolidating itself every day, taking charge of its own destiny, a destiny of dignity, prosperity, and freedom and justice. And this is a firm thanks to the mobilization of a people over a common space with a shared destiny, one people, one space, one destiny. This motto guides each and every one of our actions and is embodied by the operationalization of the unified force of the Confederation. and is also embodied by the creation of the confederal bank, investment bank and development bank, and is embodied by the consolidation of relations between all of the different institutions of the countries, the AES, as well as strengthening the historic centuries long links between the communities and the vital forces of our space. Finally, this motto is part of diplomatic cohesion between three states shown by the This speech made on behalf of the states of the AES confederation, on behalf of the peoples of the confederation, and in behalf of the diaspora of the confederation. Mr. President, the Alliance of Sahel States welcomes the theme of this session of the General Assembly, Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation, a United Nations that Delivers for All. Now, this theme is an undeniable admission. It's an admission of an erosion of trust between the members of the organization, double standards, biased positions, institutionalized injustice, and the instrumentalization of institutions and procedures. And it's an admission that our organization is struggling to adapt to the changes The huge changes that we're seeing of a world in constant evolution and an admission that our organization, unfortunately, is no longer there for everyone, but belongs more and more to actors chosen according to their power and their vested interests. The promises of hope enshrined in the United Nations Charter, which extolled peace, are disregarded. International law is being martyred and tortured by members. whose propensity for domination, neocolonialism and hegemony is all too evident. Yes, we need to rebuild trust. It's an ambition that we all share, but this suggests that our organization has to stop being the microphone or an organization

that upholds some powerful actors in order to become the common house of all of the peoples equal in dignity, equal in rights and equal in sovereignty. It's in light of this and what's taking place in the Sahel that we are taking part in these deliberations. For the Confederation, rebuilding trust must go hand in hand with the immediate interest of dealing with state support for terrorists because terrorism can must not continue to be a tool of foreign policy on the part of certain powers the Confederation of Sahel states does not just face a simple sum of isolated terrorist groups we face a persistent enterprise of destabilization supported by considerable means and focused against the right of our peoples to live in peace, to choose their leaders and to have control over their resources and fully exercise their sovereignty. The terrorist attacks, in particular the ones perpetrated on 25 April and 4 July in 2026 in the Republic of Mali, on 18 June and 29 and 30 August 2026 in the Republic of Niger, fully illustrate this phenomenon. Let us call a spade a spade. and say things clearly, the supply chains, the technical capacities and coordinated use of conventional means do not come out of nowhere. Behind the murderous acts of these terrorists, there are structured support, including state support. And we call on the international community to look at this clearly, to investigate seriously and to condemn without any geopolitical calculations all actors that finance, arm, provide intelligence to and protect terrorists. Silence in the face of such actions is not prudence but complicity. Mr. President, rebuilding trust must also go hand in hand with the strict respect for the sovereignty of states, must go hand in hand with the development of partnerships and not servitude, and go hand in hand with justice over outdated neocolonialist principles. Anything that goes against the instrumentalization of certain international defense mechanisms to defend human rights, to put political pressure on our countries, like the what the European Parliament did to justify a potential neo-colonial offensive through resolutions, misfounded resolutions against the Sahel. All of this is unacceptable. Mr. President, confidence will not be reborn in an organization that where some actors tolerate arbitrary behavior and The promotion and protection of fundamental rights for our states is an absolute responsibility, and we are engaging in this in a context of extreme violence imposed against our populations by terrorists. When our states adopt exceptional measures, as strictly contained by our national legislation and our international obligations, the idea is to protect the populations, to preserve public order and guarantee national security. The most important human right is the right to life. the right of a people to not live under terror. We see that these measures are often subject to selective, biased lectures from others without sufficient consideration for the realities on the ground. The Confederation reaffirms its commitment to impartial, objective and non-selective treatment of human rights. We call for dialogue based on mutual respect, good faith and factual rigor. We accept impartial and objective reviews, but we do reject political processes. I'm being tried in the court of political political appeal. Yes, to respect the law, but we reject its instrumentalization. This is precisely. Due to these grave. shortfalls, persistent selectivity and manifest politicization that our states made a sovereign decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court and formally notified our withdrawal from the Rome Statute. International justice, yes. However, variable justice, no. The Confederation remains committed to multilateral independent institutions that are impartial and credible. Mr. President, The Confederation of Sahel States is standing up against domination, exploitation and disregard. We adhere to the vision of a rehabilitated Africa, with our dignity recovered, choosing our own path. and freeing ourselves from the constraints of a bygone era to be the masters of our own destiny. In this regard, the Confederation of Sahel States welcomes the adoption in March 2026 by the General Assembly of the resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade of enslaved Africans and the system of racial servitude as the gravest crime against humanity. This is the forum to reiterate our warm congratulations to the high-level authorities of the Republic of Ghana and all of the Afro-descendant communities who brought this file to the United Nations for everyone to support it to make this decisive step forward towards justice. This historic recognition, which is part of a noble process, must open the way to truth, memory, reparation, and real change in the international dynamics that we inherited from slavery and colonization. It's also appropriate to welcome the recent adoption just three weeks ago on the 4th of September of resolution A/80/L.104 seeking to give Africa its right size on the map. We also congratulate the high-level authorities of the Togolese Republic for bringing this forward with foresightedness and the advocacy that allowed this legitimate victory to succeed. We applaud them for that. Mr. President, in terms of international peace and security, our world remains up against multiplication of armed conflicts, the emergence of new crises, and a return to the principle of might is right, unilateral approaches, Unlawful sanctions, selective interventions and double standards weaken the international order and put the multilateral system to test. The Confederation of Sahel States calls for an immediate end to violence against civilian populations, unhindered humanitarian access and a just and lasting political solution. The inability of the Security Council to prevent or resolve in a lasting way these crises reveals the limits of a system that too often protects the interests of powers to the detriment of human life. On the development file, the Confederation remains concerned over the aggravation of climate vulnerabilities, the multiplication of humanitarian crises, the malicious use of technology and ICTs for manipulation and destabilization. The conclusions of the High-Level Political Forum of July 2026 confirmed that the international community remains far away from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Four years before the 2030 deadline, We no longer have any time left to make nice statements. It's now time to act, to provide equitable financing and achieve economic justice. In light of these challenges, collective, ambitious responses with solidarity are necessary. The Pact for the Future, the Compromisos de Sevilla, the Doha Programme of Action, the UNAT Initiative and the OASO Programme of Action for landlocked developing countries can contribute to making the multilateral system more effective, more inclusive and more focused on results, as long as they do not just remain promises. Our priorities must be clearly defined, reducing the digital gap, strengthening climate resilience, investing in human capital, consolidating and strengthening educational health systems, supporting industrialization, ensuring the effective participation of youth and women in decision making. International solidarity is necessary. However, the experience of the AES also shows that the mobilization of domestic resources as supporting trust, national solidarity and the participation of citizens is the best tool available for freeing up our economic potential. Mr. President, the Confederation of Sahel States supports the initiatives engaged in as part of the UNAT initiative, convinced that our organization must undergo profound transformations in order to respond to contemporary challenges. However, reform should not be a pretext to further reduce the presence of the United Nations in different countries. It must be political, democratic, and courageous. in the way that it redistributes votes, responsibilities and powers. The reform of the Security Council is something that must not be delayed. It is necessary to strengthen transparency, accountability, put an end to double standards, to adapt this body to geopolitical reality the Confederation reaffirms its support for the Essel we need consensus and the sets declaration the credibility of the organization will the credibility of the UN will depend on its ability to ensure that the Charter international law and the sovereign equality of states are fully respected with the same rigor without distinction in this regards the Confederation reiterates our appeal to lift all unilateral coercive actions that are against international law, including the embargo imposed against the Republic of Cuba. Reform of global governments must also transform the international financial architecture, more equitable representation for developing countries in international financial institutions, fair treatment of debt, access to real financing for development, more equitable international trade and respect for national priorities. Mr. President, the AES Confederation remains resolutely committed to working alongside all Member States of the United Nations to achieve a more just, equitable international order with more solidarity based on the dignity of peoples, sovereign equality of states, international justice and the peaceful settlement of disputes. However, our cooperation will never be synonym of submission and our openness will never mean abandoning our own vital interests. It's only if these conditions are met that we will be able to restore confidence and trust between our nations to make our organization credible again and to offer present and future generations a safer, more prosperous world that is more respectful of the aspirations of all peoples. President, heads of delegation, ladies and gentlemen, in our national capacity, I wish to draw the attention of this august assembly to some thoughts, some considerations on the situation in my country. Burkina Faso is engaged in a dynamic of deep-seated transformation spearheaded by progressive popular revolution. At the time where we are beginning to commemorate our fourth anniversary, we must underscore the progress made in several areas in life in our country. On an economic level, Burkina Faso is resolutely pursuing its efforts to undertake structural transformations of our economy and to achieve development that is based more on our own priorities and potentials in synergy with other member states of the confederation. Our country is working to strengthen our productive capacities, to harness our natural resources and to further promote local processing of raw materials in agriculture and industry, particularly significant presidential initiatives are being implemented to stimulate national production, to create jobs, and to strengthen the participation of our populations in our economic activity. Under the leadership of Comrade Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of Faso, Burkina Faso has made a choice to place the people at the heart of all endeavors, encouraging the creation of new production units and processing units by encouraging better use of our resources and through these initiatives with six great presidential initiatives our economy is becoming more dynamic and progressively being strengthened our ambition is to strengthen the bases for um local lasting and inclusive development while pursuing the deep-seated reform and renewal of our society and strengthening our economic sovereignty. This transformation also includes infrastructure. The Relance 2026-2030 plan, in this regard, is a major framework to deliver this approach and to support the changes that are currently underway in our country. By relying first and foremost on our own forces and respecting the choice to exploit and process our resources locally, we intend to create more value within our economy and to ensure that the wealth of our country benefit our population as a priority. On a security level, Burkina Faso, in coordination with the countries of our confederation, is pursuing efforts to reestablish peace, lasting peace, security, and social cohesion, and all of these across our country. More than 74% of our national territory is now under our control. Our defense and security forces, as well as the volunteers for the defense of the homeland, are continuing their operations against terrorist groups and criminal gangs. These changes are being delivered specifically by winning back several villages and areas, the progressive return of thousands of people to their places of residence, the reopening of tens of schools, as well as returning to normal activity in healthcare centers and progressive reinstallation of the government. This progress continues to consolidate, and it's the result of efforts and sacrifices made by our people, as well as the commitment of all actors to reestablish peace and security. Mr. President, in the Middle East, we remain particularly concerned over the situation faced by the Palestinian people and the suffering endured by the civilian population in Gaza. In the face of this tragedy, Burkina Faso reaffirms its commitment to a lasting political solution based on coexistence between two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security in line with international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Burkina Faso also remains concerned by the consequence of unilateral coercive measures imposed against certain states like Cuba and Nicaragua, and the repercussions of these have a terrible effect on the populations. We call, therefore, for prioritizing dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect between these states. On the question of Western Sahara, Burkina Faso, true to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, reaffirms its commitment to the political process led under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General and based on the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco. We encourage the continuation of efforts to reach a negotiated political solution between the parties pursuant to relevant resolutions of the Security Council. furthermore, reaffirm our commitment to the one China principle. President, through these different considerations, Burkina Faso wishes to reaffirm an essential conviction. That is that our organization will never be able to fully respond to the challenges of our time unless it remains true to the principles that led to its founding, the principles in force when the organization was created. We remain convinced that through dialogue, solidarity and determination, the United Nations, together with our people, will be able to overcome the challenges that we face and to build the foundations for a future of peace, dignity and shared prosperity. One people, one space, one destiny. Long live the Confederation of Sahel States, standing strong. Long live Sahel. Long live United Africa. Motherland or death. We will prevail. Thank you.