The military government in Burkina Faso has ordered hundreds of French troops to leave the country within one month.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

The national TV broadcasting service RTB (La Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina) made the announcement on Saturday 21 January 2023, quoting the official Agence d’Information du Burkina.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

The news agency said the decision had been made on Wednesday 18 Jan 2023 to end the presence of French troops on Burkinabe soil.

This comes just 5 months after France completed its withdrawal from neighbouring Mali following 9 years fighting against Islamist rebels alongside regional troops.


https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

After the second coup in Mali last year, anti-French protesters started pressuring the military rulers to strengthen ties with Russia instead of France.


https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

Mali has already hired Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, who have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Mali and other places.

For more than 60 years after Burkina Faso’s independence, France has maintained strong economic and humanitarian aid ties with its former colony.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

Colonized by France in 1890, Burkina Faso gained independence (as then Upper Volta) on 05 August 1960. The name Burkina Faso was adopted in 1984 and means “Land of Incorruptible People”. The current estimated population of the country is 22.81 million.


https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/

34-year old Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the current interim leader of the government of Burkina Faso (since the 30 Sept 2022 coup which ousted interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba) is currently the world’s youngest serving head of state.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/01/22/africa-lens-burkina-faso-junta-demands-french-departure/