The French Special forces Known as Operation Sabre departed Burkina Faso on Monday after Ouagadougou requested France to do so.

This followed a series of protests by Burkinabe and the subsequent review of a 2018 military agreement signed between the two countries.

Established to fight insurgents in the region, Sabre the population say has failed to carry out their mandate as Burkina Faso continues to suffer violent extremism, deaths and massive displacement.

The Burkinabe President Captain Ibrahim Traore in an attempt to salvage the situation is drifting away from France and leaning towards Russia – a strong ally of its neighbour, Mali.

Bram Posthumous is a Journalist with vast knowledge of the Sahel region. He tells us more.