African Community: “We are in a context where regional integration is declining. The creation of AES is proof of this today” (Dr. Aimé Raoul Sumo Tayo)

Dr. Aimé Raoul Soumo-Tayo, speaking on his theme, “African Quasi-Diplomacy and the New Security Agenda: Issues, Actors and Practices of Cross-Border Cooperation”, noted that “We are in a context where regional integration is in decline. It is clear that regionalism as we know it is no longer functioning. Today, the creation of the Alliance for the Sahel proves that regionalism, which has worked so far, is no longer effective.

However, the communicator discovered that there is a mechanism designed by African leaders to promote cross-border cooperation, namely the Niamey Convention (adopted in June 2014: editor’s note). However, due to low ratification rates (very few countries have ratified so far), this instrument has not yet entered into force.

For researchers at the International Space Station in Pretoria, the context has changed and today, Africa’s peace and security architecture has shown its limitations. “I am therefore defending the idea that in contexts where the logic of integration or top-down cooperation does not work or works poorly, it can be interesting to look at alternative mechanisms, and I ‘offer one’. That is, the international action of border community administrations, which in my opinion can be an interesting tool for stabilizing border relations but above all for the security of border areas. Almost everywhere in Africa there are peoples divided into two parts who live along international borders. These peoples have long been seen as a disgrace to colonization. However, I see these peoples as opportunities for cooperation that we must seize. There are mechanisms and informal practices that benefit from formalization. This is the case, for example, of traditional chiefs, whose prestige often transcends national borders and who can be mobilized (and they are mobilized) to defend their lands; because it must be said that before the security of the state, there must first be the security of the people. We talked about popular security initiatives; at home we have the Koglwéogo, at home we have the Vigilance Committees, which sometimes lead international actions. This is all that needs to be formalized,” analyzes Dr. Aimé Raoul Sumo Tayo, thus welcoming the National Center for Strategic Studies of Burkina Faso (CNES-BF). initiative to create an institutional framework for reflecting on these topics of real interest.

“You know, in general, in our country, we do not equip ourselves with a knowledge system; today, the French Presidency has an instrument (CNES-BF), a decision-support instrument, whose precise purpose is to carry out the reflective work that must guide national and international public policies. (…). I am one of those who believe that we must know more to do less in matters of peace, war and security. One could say that the knowledge/power binary has become a reality in Burkina Faso. Bringing people together; soldiers, civil servants, academics… around such a framework, to discuss such an important issue, seems to me essential; because, unfortunately, public policy in our country is often not subject to reflective work. We are usually in the realm of reaction. However, reaction is not the way to react clearly to the security problems we face. Therefore, such a framework faces challenges”, emphasizes Dr. Aimé Raoul Sumo Tayo, then asserts that the geopolitical, geostrategic context has changed and “it goes without saying that today we must invent mechanisms, methods and public policies adapted to the reality of the current geopolitical situation”.

In his presentation, Dr. Firmin Nana also pointed out his theme, pointing out that it is a question of understanding how the security crisis has a significant impact on foreigners from Burkina Faso. It will therefore clarify the concepts, especially those of foreign policy (all the activities of a state outside its territory), international cooperation and paradigm (the latter is understood here as normative; type model, basis. guides the actions of actors on the ground).

In developing the theme, Dr. Nana in the first part explores the rationality and manifestations associated with this security crisis by analyzing the importance of exogenous factors affecting foreign policy and the nature of the paradigm shift.

In the second part of the exchange, the guest focused on the dynamics of international cooperation under the influence of the security crisis. He said: “According to the logic of interpreting the security situation, how the crisis affects the different paradigms that support foreign policy, and how these new paradigms become factors in the transformation of Burkina Faso’s international cooperation.”

Dr. Firmin Nana focuses here on the key elements that affect Burkina’s international cooperation, namely the changes in the partnership agreements (rereadings, condemnations and new agreements), the expansion and diversification of diplomatic actions (which Burkina needs to end this crisis, to preserve its sovereignty and assert its position on the international stage).

From now on, we understand that the paradigm of sovereignty is proposed, which leads Burkina Faso to take charge of its own destiny through a new form of cooperation (nourished by an endogenous development dynamic, win-win partnerships based on mutual benefit and respect).

Omar L. Ouedraogo

Lefaso.com