The leader of the military in Burkina Faso, Capt Ibrahim Traore, caused concern when he attended the ceremony on Tuesday for the inauguration of the President of Ghana, John Mahama, carrying a gun on his hip.
Some described the unusual move as a breach of security protocol.
Others saw it as a lack of confidence in the ability of Ghanaian officials to protect the Burkinabe chief.
It is not clear whether Traore had a permit to carry the weapon and Ghana’s new government did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
Mahama was sworn in after defeating the then ruling party representative, Mahamudu Bawumia, by a large margin in last month’s election.
Traore, was one of the 17 heads of state in attendance, and his visit came at a time of heightened tension in West Africa.
Burkina Faso, along with two other military-led states – Mali and Niger, broke away from the regional bloc Ecowas to form a new coalition.
Security analyst, Vladmir Antwi Danso, said it is unusual for the head of state to hold his shoulder when he attends his coronation ceremony as the security of the leader who attends the ceremony is the responsibility of the host.
He pointed out that the security forces of Ghana and Burkinabe should have discussed this issue to ensure that the right policies are followed. “Either that wasn’t done or it wasn’t done well,” Dr Danso told the BBC.
Although another security analyst, Retd Col Festus Aboagye, admits that the host country is usually responsible for protecting visiting presidents, he says the plans of both parties can lead to differences.
He suggested a deal could be reached to allow Traore to wear his military uniform and carry his side arm, along with some of his security detail.
“I don’t think it’s a security breach in the sense that people are saying, [as] if he had drawn a weapon to shoot. That is still a long way off,” said Col Aboagye.
The Alliance of Sahel States, made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, accused Ecowas of trying to destabilize their countries. Traore may have had that in mind when he attended the inauguration.
But the fact that the military leader “carried a gun showing that they have the power of the gun because they are military leaders and attending a democratic investigation is not easy,” Emmanuel Bensah who works on issues of regional integration, said.
Relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso have been strained, especially after former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo accused Traore of harboring Russian troops.
Traore’s visit to the inauguration was seen as an important diplomatic event aimed at improving relations between the two countries.
Ghana’s support is essential in helping Burkina Faso deal with the deadly jihadist insurgency, which poses a threat to the West African coastal countries.
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