Burkina Faso gives French troops one month to leave

Burkina Faso has ordered French troops stationed in the country to leave within one month amid ongoing anti-France sentiment at home.

Local media, including National broadcaster RTB and state-run news agency Agence d’Information du Burkina, indicated that the Government made the decision Wednesday to end the presence of France’s military on Burkinabe soil.

The government criticized the 2018 agreement that greenlights the presence of French troops in the West African country.

“Indeed, the government has denounced these agreements. An official communication will be made to situate the national and international opinion in the days to come,” a government source said.

The government reportedly indicated the decision is in line with national anti-France sentiment in the country.

Friday, several hundred demonstrators took to the streets of Ouagadougou to demand the departure of the French ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, and the dismantling of the French military force “Sabre” stationed in the northern part of capital Ouagadougou.

Ties between Burkina Faso and its former colonial power have been sour since the arrival to power of incumbent leader Captain Ibrahim Traore in September last year, through a coup. Last week, Traore indicated that his country will kindly relinquish ties with some countries to re-gain its sovereignty.