On Friday, hundreds of people in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, took to the streets to demand the removal of the French Ambassador to the country. The demonstration was organized by the Pan-African Leaders Collective, a political group that supports Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has been in power since September. The protesters also held signs with anti-France sentiments amid rising tensions with France and Burkina Faso.
The protesters called for the withdrawal of the 400 French special forces currently stationed in the country. “The French ambassador, we want him to go back, the soldiers in Kamboinsin, we all want them to go back. Let them free Burkina,” said demonstrator Abdoul Karim Sawadogo.
Another demonstrator, Souleymane Sawadogo, went even further, stating, “We are Burkina Faso, an independent country. Burkina Faso is a sovereign country. We have decided, we want to lead this fight, the war we are currently waging, Burkina Faso has decided to lead the fight with good partners [Russia]. And we feel that France is not the ideal partner to accompany us to the final victory.”
Why Burkinabe people want France to leave Burkina Faso
This call for the removal of French troops and the Ambassador comes after French troops withdrew from Mali last year, following a coup in the former French colony that saw its rulers move closer to Russia. Since the coup in September, Burkina Faso has prioritized strengthening ties with Russia.
Burkina Faso’s government has been looking to strengthen its ties with other countries to counterbalance the influence of its former colonizer France which has historically had a strong influence in the region. Russia, as a non-Western country, is seen as a viable alternative partner to France. Burkina Faso has also been seeking to diversify its arms suppliers, and Russia has been willing to sell it weapons at a relatively low cost. Russia has also been providing military training to Burkina Faso’s armed forces, which is seen as an important step in the country’s efforts to fight against the growing threat of terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
Russia also been investing heavily in Burkina Faso’s mining sector, specifically in the production of gold. Russia’s state-controlled mining company, Rostec, has been working closely with Burkina Faso’s government to develop the country’s gold mines
Is anti-France sentiment new in Burkina Faso?
In recent years, there has been growing sentiment in Burkina Faso for the French military to withdraw from the country. This sentiment is largely driven by a desire for greater national sovereignty and a sense that the French military presence is not effectively addressing the security challenges facing Burkina Faso.
One major factor contributing to this sentiment is the ongoing conflict in Mali, which has spilled over into Burkina Faso and other neighboring countries. The French military intervened in Mali in 2013 in an effort to combat Islamist extremist groups, but the violence has continued and spread to other countries in the region. Many Burkinabé believe that the French military presence has not effectively addressed the security threats posed by these groups and that it has done little to improve the overall security situation in the country.
Additionally, there are concerns that the French military presence in Burkina Faso is seen as a form of neo-colonialism, with the French government and military exerting significant influence over the country’s domestic affairs. There is also a belief that the French government is exploiting Burkina Faso’s natural resources without adequately compensating the country.
Image Credit: Africa News
