Ouagadougou: The National Coordination of Citizen Monitoring Associations (CNAVC) has strongly condemned what it describes as neocolonialist political manipulations that have resulted in Burkina Faso being excluded from the rotating presidency of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Council of Ministers.

According to Burkina Information Agency, CNAVC President Labili Naba voiced his concerns on Saturday, stating that any political or institutional maneuvering intended to bypass community regulations and prioritize personal interests over established protocols is unacceptable. Naba emphasized that the WAEMU’s governing documents clearly mandate that the presidency of the Conference of Heads of State should be rotated among its member countries, which would entitle Burkina Faso to assume this role.

Naba further criticized the alleged behind-the-scenes political maneuvering by neocolonialists, asserting that adherence to common rules is crucial for maintaining stability, peace, and cooperation within the sub-region. He warned against allowing WAEMU to be used as a tool to exclude certain member states, urging all countries involved to act responsibly to uphold the unity and credibility of the Union. This, he noted, is essential to prevent WAEMU from experiencing the same weakening as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The CNAVC president attributed the situation to the influence of leaders such as Alassane Ouattara and Emmanuel Macron, who he claims are leveraging the political inexperience of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to obstruct Burkina Faso’s legitimate and rightful claim to the presidency. He appealed to the Senegalese populace to remain vigilant, reminding them of the Pan-Africanist ideals that influenced their electoral choices and urging them to continue adhering to these principles.

Naba cautioned against opposing Captain Ibrahim Traor©, whom he described as a symbol of hope for millions of young Africans seeking sovereignty, arguing that doing so would betray the values they stand for. He concluded by highlighting the breach of WAEMU’s own regulations, which resulted in the denial of the rotating presidency to Burkina Faso.