Africa News of Saturday, 7 January 2023

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

France is greatest destabilizer of West Africa - Activist hails 'ejection' of French diplomat

Captain Ibrahim Traore is leader of the Burkinabe junta Captain Ibrahim Traore is leader of the Burkinabe junta

Lead convener for the FixTheCountry campaign has accused the French government of being the greatest destabilizers of West Africa over the years.

According to him, Paris has often hidden behind security cooperation and the fight against terrorists to self perpetuate their presence in Francophone African countries.

"The truth is, the French create and fund these disparate terrorist groups. This way, their presence in these countries becomes self perpetuating. Their soldiers never leave; and there is never an exit plan," he stated in a Facebook post dated January 4, 2023.

The post also lauded Ghana's northern neighbours for standing up to the French whiles cautioning that removing the ambassador did not neutralize the threat of their machinations.

"For Africa to be free, it needs the free hand to pick and choose its geopolitical partners. We are not bounded to the same colonialists for life," he added.

The Burkinabe government led by Capt. Ibrahim Traore this week ordered the French ambassador, Luc Hallade, to leave the country amid deterioration of relations between Ouagadougou and Paris.

Read Barker-Vormawor's full post on the development

I woke up to news that the Burkina Faso have asked the French Ambassador to leave the Country.

This is welcome news.

The French have been the greatest destabilizers in West Africa for years. Their presence in the region is not a force for good. They claim to be fighting the terrorist threat in these several francophone countries. The truth is, the French create and fund these disparate terrorist groups. This way, their presence in these countries becomes self perpetuating. Their soldiers never leave; and there is never an exit plan.

Withdrawing the Ambassador does not eliminate the threat that they will continue to seek to destabilize the country.! But standing up to bullies, is within the right of every person or nation!

For Africa to be free, it needs the free hand to pick and choose its geopolitical partners. We are not bounded to the same colonialists for life.

France has no default claim to “helping” Burkina Faso fight the terrorists charge. They have no default claim to Burkina’s Faso mines or resources or to lay claim to the country in the name of military assistance.

The ruse must end!