Anti-French anger is not diminishing in Burkina Faso.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered on Friday, January 20, in the heart of Ouagadougou to demand the departure of the French presence in the country. 

"French army, get out of here" 

Among their demands, the demonstrators demanded the departure of the French ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, and the closure of the French army base in Kamboinsin, on the northern outskirts of the capital where 400 special forces are stationed.

Mostly dressed in white, the demonstrators carried signs on which one could read: "French army, get out of our house", "France, get out", or "Outside the arsonist diplomats". 

"We are here to express our total and unwavering support for President Ibrahim Traoré, for the defense and security forces engaged in the fight against terrorism and in their quest for the total sovereignty of our country", declared Mohamed Sinon of the collective of Pan-African Leaders (CLP) which brings together organizations favorable to the new head of the military junta. 

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power on September 30 after a military coup on September 30 – the second in eight months – relations between Burkina Faso and France have deteriorated.

During the putsch, demonstrators violently attacked the French Embassy and the French Institute in Ouagadougou.

Since December, the Burkinabè authorities have been asking France to recall its ambassador there, Luc Hallade, after the latter made remarks deemed offensive.

>> To read also: "Recruitment of civilians in Burkina Faso: 'a great classic of the regular armies in difficulty'"

In recent months, the Ouagadougou authorities have repeatedly affirmed their desire to strengthen their relations with Moscow, causing some to fear the arrival of the Russian paramilitary company Wagner in the country.

Behind the scenes, the Burkinabè junta assures Paris that it does not intend to enlist the services of Wagner.

According to several French sources, a liaison team came to prospect in Burkina, a country rich in mineral resources.

A country plagued by jihadist violence 

Burkina Faso, in particular its northern half, has been confronted since 2015 with attacks by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

These attacks left thousands dead and displaced two million people.  

The latest round of attacks left around 30 people dead in the northern half of the country.

According to several security sources, a first attack on Thursday targeted an outpost of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), civilian auxiliaries of the army in Rakoegtenga, a town located in the province of Bam (north).

Six of them died as well as a woman. 

Further west, in the province of Nayala, an "ambush" took place "against a convoy escorted by soldiers and VDPs on the Siena-Saran axis" indicated this same source.

In the province of Nayala, an “ambush” took place “against a convoy escorted by soldiers and VDPs”, she added, referring to “a dozen VDPs and a civilian” who died in this second attack.

Two other incidents linked to armed jihadist groups were recorded on Thursday, according to other security sources. 

About fifty women were kidnapped Thursday and Friday by jihadists in the north of #BurkinaFaso 🇧🇫, the Burkinabè government announced.



The details of our correspondent @GeoffroyVaha for @JTAfrique, to see in full here: https://t.co/kmlMMafBSc pic.twitter.com/Id3VoZ36AN

— FRANCE 24 French (@France24_fr) January 17, 2023

Last week, around 60 women and infants were abducted near Arbinda, in northern Burkina, by suspected jihadists.

Ground and aerial searches have been launched to find them.

Part of the country, in particular the Sahel region where Arbinda is located, has been under blockade by jihadist groups for several months, and the localities are hardly supplied. 

With AFP

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