Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, met with Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, in Ouagadougou on Wednesday to forge a stronger united front against regional terrorism.
General Ismail, delivering a message from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, emphasized that both nations face nearly identical threats from Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgencies—JNIM in the Sahel and Al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa. The meeting signaled a shift toward deeper South-South cooperation, with both sides committing to enhanced intelligence sharing, joint training programs, and direct collaboration between their respective security agencies.
Accompanied by Burkinabè Security Minister Mahamadou Sana, the Somali official stressed that international partnerships are essential for stabilizing security governance. Since his ascension in September 2022, Captain Traoré has prioritized African-led security alliances over traditional Western partnerships, a policy mirrored by Somalia’s ongoing efforts to diversify its military support. The two leaders concluded the session by calling for greater continental solidarity, arguing that the intertwined challenges of security and development can only be addressed through collective African resolve.
HO/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA