The military administration of Burkina Faso has mandated the withdrawal of hundreds of French troops within a month.
The news was announced on Saturday by the national broadcaster RTB, citing the official Agence d’Information du Burkina. Per the news agency, the decision to withdraw France’s military presence in Burkina Faso was reached on Wednesday.
The decision comes five months after France completed its nine-year mission in Mali, where it had fought alongside local forces against Islamist rebels.
Following the country’s second coup last year, anti-French protesters pushed the junta to instead expand ties with Russia. Mali has already employed Wagner Group Russian mercenaries, who have been accused of major human rights violations in the country and elsewhere.
However, more than 60 years after the country’s independence, France has maintained strong economic and humanitarian ties with its former colony.
Saturday’s announcement was welcomed by those who had lost patience with France.
Source: Africanews
