Burkina Faso has demanded that French troops leave its territory within a month, the National News Agency reported on Saturday evening, in the context of months of escalating tensions between the two countries. The agency stated that “the government of Burkina Faso suspended last Wednesday the agreement governing the presence of French armed forces on its territory from 2018”, and this comment dated January 18, 2023 gives, under the terms of the agreement dated December 17, 2018, one month for the French armed forces must leave the territory of Burkina Faso.”
Sources said the case “is not related to the severing of relations with France. The notice concerns only agreements on military cooperation.”
“The struggle for sovereignty has begun,” Captain Ibrahim Traore, the acting president of Burkina Faso, who came to power in a coup last September, the second in eight months, told students.
There have been several demonstrations, the latest of which took place last Friday in Ouagadougou, demanding the withdrawal of France from this coastal country, where a battalion of nearly 400 French special forces is stationed.
During a visit to Burkina Faso last week, the French Deputy Foreign Minister dismissed accusations that Paris was trying to intervene and said: France is “not imposing anything” on Burkina Faso, and I did not come here to influence which either option or solution. you can dictate your choice to Burkina Faso.
Thousands have been killed and nearly two million people have been displaced from their homes, leading to a security and humanitarian crisis that sparked two coups last year.
