Burkina Faso, under the leadership of military junta chief Ibrahim Traoré, officially announced its decision to sever diplomatic relations with Paris last Friday. This significant move marks a deepening rift between the two nations.

All French diplomatic personnel stationed in Burkina Faso have now returned to France, concluding their departure by the end of last week. In a reciprocal measure, Burkinabè diplomatic staff are expected to leave France by this coming Monday, July 6th, as confirmed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Burkina Faso’s chargé d’affaires in Paris was summoned to the French ministry earlier last Monday. This meeting followed Ouagadougou’s unilateral declaration on June 26th to break diplomatic ties with France. During the summons, it was conveyed that, in a spirit of reciprocity, Burkinabè diplomatic personnel would also be required to depart France within seven days, a deadline that expires this Monday evening, according to the Quai d’Orsay.

“We deeply regret this hostile and baseless decision, which clearly illustrates the troubling trajectory of the Burkinabè authorities,” the Quai d’Orsay reiterated. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions from this situation,” it emphasized.

The French ministry additionally refuted any claims of French support for terrorist groups, dismissing such allegations as “completely false.” These accusations were notably cited by the authorities in Ouagadougou as a justification for the rupture of relations with Paris.

“We unequivocally condemn all terrorist assaults, as well as the atrocities committed against civilians across the Sahel region. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the populations who bear the brunt of the ongoing crisis,” the ministry added.

The Quai d’Orsay underscored France’s globally recognized commitment to combating terrorism worldwide, acknowledging the heavy sacrifices made. “In this particular context, we urge French nationals to maintain heightened vigilance,” it advised.

According to ministerial data, over 2,000 French citizens are registered on the consular rolls in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabè nationals reside in France.

Persistent tensions

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power through a coup d’état in September 2022, has steered Ouagadougou towards a staunchly sovereignist policy. This approach has been marked by repression against critical voices and an increasingly hostile stance towards Western nations, particularly France. The Burkinabè government accuses Paris of “incessant activism” against its national interests, though it maintains that the people-to-people relations remain unaffected.

As early as 2023, just months after assuming control, the junta demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade. This was followed by the denunciation of a military accord with Paris and the eventual withdrawal of the French army, which had long been engaged in the fight against jihadist groups destabilizing the country for the past decade. Since then, the regime has intensified its criticisms of France and has actively pursued new international partnerships, notably with Russia, Turkey, and Iran, signaling a significant shift in its foreign policy alignment. This developing Burkina Faso news today is crucial for understanding West Africa Burkina security.