A group of Russian military contractors who identify as “Community of Officers for International Security” have written to Burkina Faso military junta, requesting permission to train the West African country’s army in their fight against jihadists.
The mercenary group based in the Central African Republic (CAR), published its offer in a letter seen and verified by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC).
Recall that soldiers seized power in Burkina Faso, citing the deteriorating security situation amid the deepening Islamic insurgency and President Roch Kabore’s inability to manage the crisis.
The offer which stated that Russian instructors can help the Burkinabè soldiers “master the security situation in very little time,” also took a swipe at the French-led offensive against extremists in the Sahel.
Despite leading the operation for over a decade, it alleges they have had no success, and adds that the Russian group can help the Burkinabè soldiers to “master the security situation in very little time”.
Western powers have earlier condemned the deployment of mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group to neighbouring Mali in December, saying it could lead to a further deterioration of security.
Many Western governments, though, insist that there is little practical difference between the Kremlin and the exploits of the Wagner Group, run by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Prigozhin, sometimes called “Putin’s cook” because of his catering company’s work for Russian President Vladimir Putin, is thought to have extensive ties to Russia’s political and military establishments, according to US intelligence officials.
The US State Department sanctioned Prigozhin and Wagner back in July 2020, as well as several front companies for the group’s operations in Sudan.
