Ouagadougou: The presidents of the Parliaments of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), meeting in Ouagadougou on June 29 and 30, 2026, condemned the resolution adopted on June 18, 2026, by the European Parliament regarding the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso, believing that it is based on an erroneous reading of the reality of the country.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the presidents of the Parliamentarians of the AES, namely Dr. Ousmane Bougouma of Burkina Faso, Dr. Mamoudou Harouna DJINGAREY of Niger, and Lieutenant General Malick DIAW of Mali, reaffirmed their support for the Burkinabe authorities and people in their efforts to defend national sovereignty, restore territorial integrity, and secure the population.
In the motion resulting from their meeting, they recalled that their position aligns with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly respect for the sovereignty of States, their territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, as well as the right of peoples to self-determination.
They emphasized that the right to life, security, and dignity of populations constitutes the first of the fundamental freedoms and falls under the primary responsibility of every State.
Parliamentarians also noted that the Confederation of Sahel States is based on values of sovereignty, the rule of law, and socio-economic development.
According to them, any assessment of the situation in Burkina Faso must consider the exceptional security context the country is experiencing, along with the sacrifices made by the Defense and Security Forces, the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, and the entire population.
The Speakers of Parliament also paid tribute to the victims of terrorism and the forces engaged on the ground, considering their courage and commitment to be an essential pillar of national resilience.
They further indicated that the fight against terrorism is a global challenge requiring more international solidarity, genuine cooperation, and mutual respect, rather than approaches that may weaken frontline states.
The presidents of the ESA Parliaments also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting governments and peoples in building a sovereign, stable, secure confederal space geared towards international cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.