Towards a withdrawal of French forces from Burkina Faso? Paris evokes “a revision of its strategy” – RT in French

French Defense does not rule out a departure of its special forces based in Burkina Faso, where demonstrations against the French presence have already taken place, while Paris is ending its anti-jihadist operation Barkhane in the Sahel.

In an interview published on November 19 on the website of the Sunday newspaper (JDD), Sébastien Lecornu returned to the French presence in Africa, and in particular in Burkina Faso, a country undermined by jihadist violence and the scene on November 18 of a new mobilization against the presence of France.

It is obvious that the review of our general strategy in Africa questions all the components of our presence, including the special forces

First mobilized at the United Nations roundabout, in the heart of the capital, the demonstrators went to the French embassy, ​​where an important security device had been deployed. Some of them then headed on motorbikes to the base of Kamboinsin, to continue the demonstration.

“It is obvious that the revision of our general strategy in Africa questions all the components of our presence, including the special forces”, declared the French Minister for the Armed Forces. “We are working on an organization in the format of our existing military bases. They will have to keep certain capacities, to protect our nationals for example, but also to turn more towards the training of local armies […] It is no longer a question of fighting terrorism “in place” of our partners, but of doing it with them, by their side,” explained the minister.

“Saber [le contingent des forces spéciales françaises basé dans la région de Ouagadougou] has had a key role in recent years in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel”, further estimated the French Minister for the Armed Forces.

Paris wants to maintain its presence in Niger

France, which has already left Mali with which it maintains execrable relations, nevertheless wishes to maintain a military presence in the Sahel, particularly in Niger. “Its destabilization would have a terrible impact,” warned Sébastien Lecornu. “Other countries are also asking us for support in the fight against terrorism. For this work to be established over time, the question of the training of officers and non-commissioned officers of African armies will be central”, he further underlined.

As AFP reports, France, which still deploys some 3,000 soldiers in the Sahel, after having counted up to 5,500 men on the spot, officially ended its anti-jihadist operation Barkhane and gave itself six months to finalize its new strategy in Africa.