Burkina Faso-Russia Relations: A big Blow to France, A wake-up call for other African leaders
Breaking News CEO as well as other forward-looking Africans, have openly disagreed with Prof. Wole Soyinka. A prolific Nigerian author, playwright, who sees a very bright future being built between Ibrahim Traore, the youthful, focused leader of Burkina Faso and Vladimir Putin of Russia;, warns: “Don’t Swap One Master for Another”
In his scepticism, the Nobel laureate emphasized the importance of true liberation, which he defined as “total, continuous, and sustainable.” He urged Africans to learn from the past and not repeat the mistakes that have held them back for so long.
A former Cameroon Opposition Member of Parliament Hon. James Ntam speaking to Breaking News was very categorical and did not mince words: “Russia is better than France and America”, Hon Ntam declared, adding that: “How many countries has Russia invaded in Africa to steal their resources as compared to France and America?” He continues:
“Whether hidden agenda or not, Russia is trying to prevent France and imperialist allies from pursuing their evil agenda on African soil alone, and France has kept its former colonies in misery for decades despite the abundance of resources they have”.
Hon. James Ntam of the Cameroon Opposition party the Social Democratic Front – SDF continues: “Those cursing Russia don’t even have evidence of Russia exploiting Africa. I don’t think Russia was part of the partition of Africa and its subsequent spoilage. We have clear examples of countries in Africa that have entertained mutually beneficial relations with Russia, like Libya, Ghana, Angola… Russia even helped South Africa free itself from the clutches of apartheid. This Western demonisation of Russia should stop. Even Cuba entertains a mutually respectful relationship with Russia like Iran and China. The arrogance and pitiless greed of the West are well documented in Africa. The Russian/Ukrainian relationship is mere Western/Russian geopolitics. The focus is on Russia and African relationships. We are currently in a war of existence, carefully crafted by the French. We are yet to see the imaginary Russian evil, but we have lived through the most horrendous French and imperialist evil in the history of mankind,” laments the former MP.
The former Cameroon MP did not end there, but fumed: “Let truth be told, are there any historical precedents in Africa where Russia came in and virtually destroyed countries like the Western colonialists? All this negativity on Russia smacks of pure surmise and conjecture rather than being backed by historical facts. These are some of the countries with close ties with Russia. South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Angola, and the Libya of Gaddafi. Now let us benchmark these countries with the French colonies of cemac zones. It’s night and day. Even Ethiopia, plagued by perpetual plagues and natural disasters, can afford Ethiopian Airlines, but the CEMAC zone cannot boast of any, having been misled and exploited by France for decades”.
Hon. James Ntam concludes: “I am in total disagreement with Wole Soyinka. His talk of running away from an anaconda and embracing a lion doesn’t tie with hard historical facts. Russia has more respect for its partners than these Western imperialists. Most of those blasting Ibrahim Traore in Burkina Faso are certainly influenced by Western propaganda. The relationship Russia entertains with its partners is based on decent mutual respect and mutual benefits. All this calumny against Traore is unfounded. All the “best pupils of France” constitute a curse to this continent. Real curse. France is a resistant and dangerous plague, parasite and the citadel of colonial evil Every African has to stand behind Traore. When all the “brainwashed pupils” of France will leave the scene Africa will breathe fresh air blowing from Russia”
The strongman of Faso himself did not mince words last May 11 as he expressed his disappointment with the French: “My biggest regret is having spent a good part of my youth listening to RFI and France 24,” Ibrahim Traoré on RT
As a guest on The Great Interview on the Russian public television channel Russia Today (RT) on May 11, 2025, the transitional president of Burkina Faso emphasized the importance of media in his fight for his country’s sovereignty.
Polycarp Labah, CEO, Breaking News
Burkina Faso-Russia Relations: A big Blow to France, A wake-up call for other African leaders
