An Analysis of the Burkinabé Resistance to French Military Cooperation in Burkina Faso

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the Burkinabé resistance to Franco-Burkinabé military cooperation. The study was conducted in Kamboincé, one of the 11 districts of Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. Out of 153 targeted participants, 150 respondents were reached. These comprised 19 questionnaire respondents, 103 participants in group discussions, and 28 interview participants drawn from various categories, including civil society organisation (CSO) activists, members of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), internally displaced persons (IDPs), Volunteers for the Defence of the Country (VDPs), and leaders from Christian, Muslim, and traditional religious communities.

The study adopted a descriptive research design and primarily employed qualitative methods of data collection. The researcher was guided by cooperation and resistance theories to analyse the data, focusing on the necessity of cooperation, partners' expectations in a multipolar world, and key factors influencing resistance movements. Qualitative data were analysed thematically, while questionnaire data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study was guided by three research questions.

The findings revealed that the presence of French armed forces (FAF) in Burkina Faso was no longer acceptable to many respondents. A prevailing social perception among the respondents was that the French armed forces were conspiring with terrorist groups. Second, the findings showed that many respondents had high expectations of Franco-Burkinabé military cooperation, which they believed had not been met. This contributed to strong opposition to the continued presence of French armed forces and helped explain the resistance against them. Third, the study revealed that the military cooperation was perceived by respondents as undermining Burkina Faso's sovereignty. A substantial majority of respondents expressed inspiration from some of Thomas Sankara's ideals and a willingness to rely on domestic capacity to address the country's security challenges, while remaining open to new military partnerships, including with Russia.

The study concludes that justice, reconciliation, and integrity are essential factors in promoting peace in Burkina Faso.