By Godfrey Olukya 11-10-2012
Burkina Faso has reportedly started deploying her troops in the northern region bordering crisis-hit Mali to guard against incursion
of Islamists from northern Mali.
The deployment follows Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaore instructing that combat troops be deployed in the northern region
bordering Mali to guard against kidnappings.
Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Djibril Bassole has said,’ We have started securing our borders with Mali. By the end of the year all
border posts will be secured and the entire northern region absolutely controlled by defense and security forces.’
Bassole said that Burkina Faso is working to ensure that no abductions can take place in the country’s north where many humanitarian workers are working in refugee camps hosting Malians.
He said that Burkina Faso is playing big role in trying to solve Mali’s crisis. It is acting as the main mediator in the crisis, which
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is trying to bring to an end.
Bassole said that the country wanted to speed up the process, adding that he asked Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, to appoint Mali representatives for the negotiations.
There are reports that ECOWAS is planning to send over 3000 regional troops to help Mali government reclaim the occupied north.However, the militants in north have threatened to deal with whoever tries to attack them decisively.
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