France has recalled its ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, for “consultations” following the decision to withdraw French troops from the country, the French Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. The decision to recall the ambassador comes in light of recent developments in Burkina Faso, with the Ministry stating that the move is to evaluate the state and prospects for bilateral cooperation.
On Monday, Burkina Faso had requested for the withdrawal of hundreds of special forces troops stationed in the country to combat the spread of terrorist groups in the Sahel region. The country had given French troops a month to leave the country, in accordance with the military agreement signed by both countries in 2018. The Burkina Faso government has emphasized that the demand for withdrawal of troops is not a severing of diplomatic ties with France.
France has accepted the request and stated that it would abide by the terms of the agreement. The French Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, who has been in office since 2019, had been previously asked to be replaced by Burkina Faso in December, without any explanation provided.
Why did France decide to withdraw troops from Burkina Faso?
The demand for the withdrawal of French troops from Burkina Faso is rooted in the ongoing conflict in the Sahel region, which has been escalating in recent years. The Sahel region, which spans several countries in West Africa including Burkina Faso, has been facing a growing threat from extremist groups such as al-Qaida and ISIS. These groups have been taking advantage of the instability and lack of government control in the region to expand their operations and recruit new members.
In recent years, Burkina Faso has been particularly affected by the violence, with terrorist attacks on civilians and government forces increasing. The government has been struggling to contain the situation, leading to a growing sentiment among the population that the French troops, who have been stationed in the country since 2018, have not been effective in curbing the spread of extremist groups.
In addition to the security concerns, there have also been reports of human rights abuses by the French troops, which has further fueled the demand for their withdrawal. The government of Burkina Faso has emphasized that the decision to ask the French troops to leave is not a severing of diplomatic ties with France, but rather a response to the growing security concerns in the country.
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