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The Burkina Faso government has asked France to pull its troops out of the insurgency-hit country within a month, further worsening its relations with ex-colonial power. France deployed about 400 special soldiers in junta-ruled Burkina Faso
The Burkina Faso government has asked France to pull its troops out of the insurgency-hit country within a month, further worsening its relations with ex-colonial power. France deployed about 400 special soldiers in junta-ruled Burkina Faso.
But relations have deteriorated between the two countries. Tensions have soared in recent months. However, the government spokesperson who announced the termination of the agreement to deploy French forces, quickly added that it was not the end of diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and France. The termination, he said, was the end of an agreement, alluding that nothing should be read about it. It reflects the country’s determination to recapture its territory lost to the Jihadists, he further said.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently said Paris was awaiting clarifications from Ouagadougou over the pullout call. This development seems to be a response to his statement. Since the latest military regime seized power in September, several demonstrations have taken place calling for the departure of the French ambassador, as well as the French troops.
Burkina Faso, like its neighbour Mali, is increasingly becoming friendly with Russia. Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tembela said after talks with the Russian ambassador and a December visit to Moscow that Russia was a reliable partner worth working together with and expressed the desire to strengthen the partnership.
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Earlier, Mali asked the French troops to withdraw. Now reports indicate that the French forces might park their troops in Niger, the poorest country in the world. France and the United States have important military bases in the vast arid country, while Germany has a logistics base.
