Panafrican News Agency

Burkina Faso gives French army one month to leave the country

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Burkina Faso government has given France one month to pull its soldiers from its territory, the state-owned Burkina Faso News Agency (AIB) reported on Saturday. 

This follows its renunciation last Wednesday of the 2018 agreement between the two countries on the presence of the French soldiers in the West African country.

Citing government sources, AIB said under the terms of the 17 December 2018 agreement, Burkina Faso is to give one month's notice to the French to pull their soldiers out of the country.

For several months, citizens of Burkina Faso have been regularly demonstrating to demand the departure of the French soldiers of "Operation Sabre", stationed in Kamboinssin, north-east of Ouagadougou.

"The protesters accuse France of not doing enough to help Burkina Faso, which has been experiencing terrorist attacks, and of being in league with the attackers," the news agency said.

Last Friday, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, to demand the departure of French troops.

These developments come as Burkina Faso moves closer to Russia as it seeks help to fight the jihadists, who have been wreaking havoc in the country.

On 12 and 13 January, jihadists kidnapped 66 women and children in the north of the country and were only rescued a couple of days ago.

Burkina Faso has been following in the footsteps of Mali, which has also asked the French to leave as it cements ties with Russia in the fight against jihadists.

-0- PANA TNDD/IS/BBA/MA 22Jan2023