BURKINA Faso has confirmed that it wants 400 French troops stationed there to leave within a month.
Government spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo said the country, which is battling jihadist extremism, wanted to defend itself.
French President Emmanuel Macron had asked the authorities to clarify their position after state media reported on Saturday that Burkina Faso was ending an agreement signed between the two countries in 2018.
The report said the Burkinabe authorities still wanted support from France in the form of equipment.
Mr Macron had said there was “great confusion” over the reported comments.
Last year, French troops pulled out of neighbouring Mali after falling out with the military leaders of that country. France also ended its eight-year anti-jihadist operation in the Sahel known as Operation Barkhane.
France has kept close military ties with many of its former colonies in West Africa and has been helping several of them fight Islamist militants who are active across the region.
