France recalls Burkina Faso envoy as its forces prepare to exit West Africa state

PARIS - France announced on Thursday that it was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso as its influence in West Africa is shrinking.

This comes a day after the former colonizer of the West African state agreed to demands from the ruling military junta to pull out troops from the former French colony in Africa's Sahel region.

"In the context of the latest developments in Burkina Faso, we have decided to recall our ambassador to Paris for consultations on the status and perspectives of our bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said.
Earlier this week Burkina Faso issued a one-month ultimatum to France to withdraw its contingent of 400 troops stationed in the country.

The ruling junta has made known its dissatisfaction with the French Ambassador, Luc Hallade.
In December last year, junta officials wrote to Paris, demanding Hallade's departure, claiming that he had publicly criticized the country's collapsing security apparatus.

Ambassador Hallade has been in place in Ouagadougou since the summer of 2019. The promised withdrawal marks the latest scaling down of France's military presence in Africa. The junta in neighbouring Mali has also insisted on the departure of French troops.

In 2022 President Emmanuel Macron brought France's decade-long anti-jihadist mission to an end.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso fell out with Paris in the wake of military coups. With both nations under military rule, the French presence has become increasingly unpopular among the public.

The Jihadist activity continues in the Sahel region while concern grows over the increasing influence of Russia, in particular through the presence of mercenaries from the Wagner Group run by an ally of President Vladimir Putin.

The Burkina Faso prime minister visited where he declared that a partnership with Russia was a logical choice.

GAROWE ONLINE