France to withdraw troops from Burkina Faso within a month - Media
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - France received Tuesday the request of Burkina Faso to withdraw its troops deployed in the country and said it would respect the deadline of one month required, French media announced on Wednesday, citing the spokesperson of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the French media, Paris received on Tuesday formally the denunciation made by the Burkinabe government of the 2018 agreement on the status of the French special forces of nearly 400 men present on Burkinabe territory.
"We will respect the terms of this agreement by following up on this request," said a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry.
Since 30 September 2022, when Captain Ibrahim Traore came to power in a coup, diplomatic relations between Paris and Ouagadougou have deteriorated.
The Burkinabe authorities asked for the replacement of the French ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade. At the end of the year, French nationals accused of espionage were expelled from Burkina Faso.
According to observers, the issue of diplomatic relations between Paris and Ouagadougou was raised on Wednesday during a working lunch of the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace.
-0- PANA TNDD/IS/BBA/RA 25Jan2023
