Former President Thomas Sankara’s memorial in Ouagadougou on Saturday, July 30 saw demonstrators gather and protest against the presence of French military in the country.
Sankara – a vital figure of the Burkinabé revolution was murdered during a coup led by Blaise Compaore, who was close to France until his fall from power in 2014.
M30 Naaba Wobgo – a brand new coalition called for the termination of cooperation agreements with France, reported Africa News.
“France clings miserably to its former African colonial empire, which it plunders, exploits its resources and instigates coups, kills their heads of state, ignites terrorism and fuels wars and genocides.”, said Yéli Monique Kam, President of the M30 Movement to the protestors.
Protesters demonstrated banners saying “Down with the UE, France’s accomplice”, “France is imperialist, tyrant, parasitic, out” and “No to cooperation agreements with France.”
” We are taking our destiny into our own hands so that we have the freedom to choose partners and appropriate solutions that are good solutions to end the conflict.” Yéli Monique Kam told an agitated crowd.
A rally was announced on 12 August to demand “an end to French politics in all its forms and the departure of the French ambassador”.
The developments come on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-nation tour of Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau, in an effort to ‘renew relationships’ with countries in Africa.
