Protesters in Ouagadougou had repeatedly claimed French troops were ineffective in fighting the rebels and called for their departure before the official ultimatum came. More than 6,000 come from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso alone. “The organization is failing to achieve its objectives,” Niger and Burkina Faso said in a statement. Meanwhile, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali signed a mutual defence pact to create the Association of Sahel States, to assist one another against external threats. On December 22, the Nigerien army took control of French military bases in the country, as the last of France’s forces took their leave.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 31, 2023 14:16 UTC