France has recalled its ambassador to Burkina Faso ahead of ending its military mission in the West African nation.
The French foreign ministry said Luc Hallade would return to Paris for consultations on the state of relations between France and Burkina Faso, a former colony.
Burkina Faso’s junta had demanded the ambassador’s replacement over his comments about the country’s deteriorating security situation.
French President Emmanuel Macron had said it was awaiting clarifications from Burkina Faso after it ordered its troops to leave the country.
France then later agreed to the request from Burkina Faso’s military leaders to withdraw all its troops from the country.
A French foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed that the Burkinabè government had sent a written request for its troops to leave.
“We will respect the terms of the agreement by honouring this request,” the spokesperson said.
Burkina Faso, is still battling an Islamist insurgency but said it wants to do it by itself.
France has about 400 special forces based in Burkina Faso to help local forces battle the Islamist insurgency.
For some time now there have been agitations over France’s military presence in Burkina Faso.
Critics complain the presence of the troops has not improved security in the insurgent-hit West African country.
Hundreds demonstrated against Paris in the capital Ouagadougou on Friday, chanting anti-France slogans and wielding placards calling on the French army to leave the country.
Source: Africafeeds.com
