French military operations in Burkina Faso ended today following the military government’s announcement the previous day.
The first steps in the troop withdrawal from Paris began on Saturday when members of the military junta attended the raising of the French flag at a base on the outskirts of the capital.
The evacuation follows a request from the military government that the troops should leave this African country within four weeks, without this meaning “the end of diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and France,” Burkinabe spokesman Jean-Emmanuel clarified Ouedraogo.
Shortly before announcing the decision, Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tembela said Russia was “a reasonable choice for a new partner” in fighting Islamist groups operating in the country.
The end of the military presence in Burkina Faso follows a similar call by the Malian military government, which has accused French troops of conspiring with armed Islamist groups against them.