Anti-French actions continue to spread throughout much of Burkina Faso.  | Photo: Reuters

Ouagadougou, January 22 (RHC)-- Hundreds of people gathered in the streets of the city of Ouagadougou to demand the withdrawal of French troops from the Kamboinsin military base.

Protesters affirm that their presence does not solve the security problems of this West African country.  The protesters also demanded that the French ambassador, Luc Hallade, leave African territory as soon as possible.

France has some 400 special forces soldiers stationed in Burkina Faso, which is battling groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).

The West African nation is one of the world’s poorest countries and the conflict there, which had spread across the Sahel from Mali over the past decade, has killed thousands of civilians.  In recent months, anti-French sentiment has spiked in the country amid perceptions that France’s military presence has not improved the security situation.

France is the former colonial ruler of Burkina Faso, which was known as Upper Volta until its independence from France in 1960.  The name Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Incorruptible People,” was adopted in 1984.