By John Ikani
France has officially ended its military operations in Burkina Faso, as announced by the Burkinabe armed forces on Sunday.
The development, which follows a flag-lowering ceremony, was held at the French special forces’ camp on the previous day, marking the official end of the Task Force’s operations on Burkinabe soil.
In January, Burkina Faso gave France one month to withdraw its troops, effectively ending the military accord that allowed French troops to fight insurgents on its territory.
This departure of French special forces from Burkina Faso marks a new chapter in the country’s battle with Islamist groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State, which have taken over large areas of land and displaced millions of people in the wider Sahel region, just south of the Sahara.
Last year, protests by opponents of the French military presence increased sharply, partly due to perceptions that France had not done enough to curb the insurgency.
In response, Ouagadougou asked France to recall its ambassador.
Over the past week, a small group of anti-French protesters has met each evening in Ouagadougou to watch out for signs of French withdrawal.
France’s withdrawal from Burkina Faso, follows a sharp deterioration in relations, and the departure of about 400 French special forces from the region.
This move is a sign of the complicated political undercurrents shaping the region, as both Burkina Faso and neighbouring Mali, are ruled by military juntas which seized power by force in the last two years, promising to improve security and look beyond their traditional allies for support.
While some protesters have expressed concerns about Russia’s involvement in the region, others have held Russian flags, indicating that political allegiances in the area are in flux.
France has seen its influence in former colonies diminish in recent years, while Russian influence in troubled African countries has been described by French President Emmanuel Macron as “predatory.”
