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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: BURKINA FASO COUP RUSSIA (TVPKG)
HEADLINE: Growing Pro Russian Sentiment in Burkina Faso After Coup
TEASER: Demonstrators celebrating the coup told VOA they would like to see more Russian involvement in the country
PUBLISHED AT: Friday, 01/28/2022 at
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Mary Cieslak,
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA, Twitter, AFP
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Some supporters of Burkina Faso's military coup this week were seen celebrating with Russian flags and calling for their country to switch alliances from France to Moscow. While the extent of pro-Russian sentiment in Burkina Faso is unclear, there is no doubt many are fed up with French efforts to help fight gangs and Islamist militant groups. Henry Wilkins reports from Ouagadougou.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: SHOT OF DEMONSTRATORS RIDING WITH RUSSIAN FLAG - various, DEMONSTRATORS AT PLACE DE LA NATION - various))
((NARRATOR))
Riding through the streets of Ouagadougou on Tuesday two demonstrators fly a Russian flag, celebrating a military coup in the country a day earlier.
They also turned out in Ouagadougou’s Place de la Nation to celebrate the military takeover. Some waved a Russian flag and told VOA...
((Demonstrator (in English, 9 secs)))
“No, we don’t want no more France. We are here because we want the defense of Russia. France hasn't done anything that gives us success.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DEMONSTRATORS AT PLACE DE LA NATION - various, DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING PICTURE OF GOITA, SHOT OF (Mali?) POLICE BREAKING UP PROTEST WITH TEAR GAS))
((NARRATOR))
((Burkina Faso military video?))
France has been giving military assistance to Burkina Faso during its six-year conflict with armed groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida.
Earlier this month, the leader of neighboring Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, welcomed mercenaries into the country from the Russian private security company, Wagner, which has close links to the Kremlin.
((video of the military base in Timbuktu??))
The mercenaries took over a military base in Timbuktu that was vacated by French troops in December.
((Demonstrators with Goita pictures? March on January 22nd?))
Demonstrators in Burkina Faso carried pictures of Goita at this week’s demonstration and on January 22nd held a march in solidarity with Mali. Police broke up the gathering using flash bombs and tear gas.
Analysts say in recent months, there has been growing anti-French sentiment and a pivot toward Russia.
((More protests broken up by police??))
Analysts say Mali is using Russian involvement as a bargaining chip after the West African bloc ECOWAS sanctioned the country for refusing to hold democratic elections within the next five years.
((Paul Melly, Chatham House Analyst (in English, 24 secs) )) ((Mandatory cg: ZOOM))
“The Malian military junta is trying to mobilize national feeling, if you like. It seems to have brought the Russians in or sought to bring the Russians in as a sort of tool of leverage. It’s not entirely clear how much practical military impact it could actually bring.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DEMONSTRATORS AT PLACE DE LA NATION - various))
((NARRATOR))
The Russian embassy for Burkina Faso and the military junta both declined to give VOA an interview.
Bernard Bermouga, a Burkinabe political commentator, is pragmatic about the situation.
((Bernard Bermouga, Political Commentator (in French, ?? secs)))
“Whether we pair with France or with Russia or any other country, it’s not out of generosity, it's not free. They’ll want something in return. What is being searched for is someone who can help Burkina Faso get out of the situation in which it finds itself.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DEMONSTRATORS AT PLACE DE LA NATION - various))
((NARRATOR))
Activist Beogo Francois attended the demonstration…
((Beogo Francois, Movement to Rebuild Burkina Faso (in French, ?? secs)))
“The French must let us work things out. We are not against France, but France must manage their affairs and allow us to manage ours. Leave our soldiers. They will have peace of mind and be able to reflect on how to organize and free the people.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DEMONSTRATORS AT PLACE DE LA NATION - various, ANNOUNCEMENT OF COUP BY JUNTA ON RTB (MANDATORY COURTESY: twitter.com/AdrienBarbier, DEMONSTRATORS WAVING RUSSIAN AND BURKINABE FLAGS - various))
(MANDATORY COURTESY: twitter.com/AdrienBarbier))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile the Russian organization that trains troops in the Central African Republic has offered military support to Burkina Faso. It remains to be seen if Burkina Faso’s new de facto leader, Paul Henri Damiba, will take up the offer.
((Henry Wilkins for VOA News, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso))
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