Burkina Faso denounces a military assistance agreement with France dating from 1961

A French army soldier in northern Burkina Faso, November 10, 2019 (Illustration image).

© MICHELE CATTANI / AFP

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1 min

Burkina Faso is asking for the permanent departure of all French military personnel still in service in the country's administrations.

Through a note dated February 28, and which explains this announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounces a “military technical assistance” agreement signed with France in 1961. A logical continuation of the implementation of the policy of “ sovereignty" advocated by the transitional government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

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In its press release, the Burkinabè Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives Paris a deadline of one month for “ 

 ”.

Since April 24, 1961, the date of the signing of the "military technical assistance agreement" implicated in the document, French aid workers have been present in the sectors of defence, security, and even civil protection. in Burkina Faso. 

Concretely, this agreement translates into financial and material support and occasional training for the Burkinabè army, details a specialist in military cooperation.

“ 

 ” of the country, continues the expert.

The questioning of this agreement comes in a tense security context.

Burkinabè soldiers have been hit by a series of attacks in the north of the country.

On February 17,

between Déou and Oursi, near the borders with neighboring Mali and Niger.

It is the deadliest attack for the army since that of Inata at the end of 2021.

► To read also: The operations of French troops in Burkina Faso are officially over

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• Burkina Faso

• France

• Ibrahim Traore

• Diplomacy