Burkina Faso: France withdraws all diplomats as ties are severed

Burkina Faso, under the leadership of military junta chief Ibrahim Traoré, announced its decision to sever diplomatic relations with Paris on a recent Friday. This move has prompted France to recall all its diplomatic personnel from the West African nation.

All French diplomats stationed in Burkina Faso have returned to France, with their departure concluded by the end of last week, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a reciprocal measure, Burkinabè diplomatic staff residing in France have been instructed to leave by the upcoming Monday, July 6.

The Burkinabè chargé d’affaires in Paris was summoned to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Monday. This followed Ouagadougou’s unilateral announcement on June 26 regarding the rupture of diplomatic ties with France. During the meeting, it was conveyed that, in a spirit of reciprocity, Burkinabè diplomatic personnel must also depart France within seven days, effectively by Monday evening.

Paris expressed profound regret over what it described as a “hostile and unfounded decision,” highlighting the “worrying drift” in the posture of Burkinabè authorities. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions,” a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Furthermore, the French Ministry vehemently denied any French support for terrorist groups, dismissing such allegations as “completely false.” These accusations were notably cited by Ouagadougou as a justification for the breakdown in relations with Paris.

“We unequivocally condemn all terrorist attacks, as well as the atrocities committed against civilians across the Sahel, and reaffirm our full solidarity with the populations, who are the primary victims of the ongoing crisis,” the ministry added. It underscored France’s well-established global commitment to counter-terrorism, noting the significant sacrifices made in this fight. In light of the current volatile situation, French nationals in Burkina Faso are strongly advised to exercise heightened vigilance.

Official figures indicate that over 2,000 French citizens are registered with the consular services in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabè nationals reside in France.

Persistent Tensions

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who ascended to power through a coup d’état in September 2022, has steered Ouagadougou towards a sovereignist policy. This approach has been characterized by repression of critical voices and a pronounced hostility towards Western nations, particularly France. The Burkinabè government has accused Paris of “incessant activism” against its national interests, though it maintains that relations between the peoples themselves remain unaffected.

In 2023, merely months after the junta seized control, it demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade. This was followed by the denunciation of a military agreement with Paris and the eventual departure of French forces, who had long been engaged in combating jihadist groups destabilizing the country for a decade. Since then, the regime has intensified its criticisms of France, pivoting instead towards new international partners such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran. This ongoing situation is crucial Sahel news English for those following current affairs and on the ground Burkina reporting.