Burkina Faso’s Leader Shows up Armed to Ghana’s Inauguration

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military chief of Burkina Faso, caused a stir when he showed up for the inauguration of John Mahama, the new president of Ghana, on Tuesday with a holstered weapon clearly attached to his waist. Speculation regarding Traoré’s confidence in Ghanaian security procedures has been stoked by the unexpected move, which some have viewed as a violation of security protocol. Requests to clarify if Traoré had authorization to carry the firearm have not received a response from President Mahama’s staff or the Ghanaian government.

There are differences among security analysts. Vladimir Antwi-Danso emphasized that the host country is normally in charge of making sure dignitaries are safe, calling it unusual for a visiting head of state to carry a firearm at such an occasion. But according to former Colonel Festus Aboagye, Traoré might have been able to keep his personal security detail and sidearm under a bilateral agreement.

Traoré’s presence coincides with tense ties between Burkina Faso and Ghana. After former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo charged Traoré with harboring Russian mercenaries, tensions increased. However, his attendance at the event was viewed as a tactful attempt to patch things up.

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