Burkina Faso summons Ghanaian ambassador over Wagner allegations

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OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso has summoned Ghana’s ambassador for “explanations” after the Ghanaian president alleged that Burkina Faso hired the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

Burkina Faso has also recalled its ambassador from Ghana for a meeting, a ministry spokesman told Reuters.

“The Ambassador of Ghana was summoned this morning regarding what the President (of Ghana) said… for explanations,” the spokesman said.

Speaking to reporters alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo claimed that Burkina Faso had hired the mercenaries.

“Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now reached an agreement to accompany Mali in the employment of Wagner’s forces there,” Akufo-Addo said, adding that he this was a painful development for Ghana.

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Burkinabe authorities have not said whether or not they are working with Wagner, a mercenary group that has been hired from neighboring Mali to help fight Islamist militants.

The prospect of Wagner expanding its presence in Africa has troubled Western powers such as France and the United States, which say the group exploits mineral resources and commits human rights abuses in the countries where it operates.

Burkina Faso’s government spokesperson did not return calls and did not respond to a message seeking comment.

A communications officer at Ghana’s foreign ministry said no one was immediately available to comment.

Burkina Faso faces an Islamist insurgency by some of the same groups that are present in Mali, and like its neighbor is ruled by a military junta that came to power on promises to improve security.

Mali’s decision to employ Wagner’s forces last year estranged it from regional and western allies and was one of the reasons French counterterrorism forces withdrew.

Wagner’s forces also fought in Libya, the Central African Republic, and Mozambique.

(Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga, additional reporting by Cooper Inveen in Accra; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Bate Felix)

Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.

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