A day after declaring that its military deployment in Burkina Faso will cease, France is recalling its ambassador.

According to the French foreign ministry, Luc Hallade was coming back for discussions over the state of Paris' ties to its former colony in West Africa.

Weeks-long protests against French involvement in Burkina Faso have taken place as the country's military leaders look to Russia for military support in putting down an Islamist insurgency.