France withdraws all diplomats from Burkina Faso amid diplomatic tensions
All French diplomats stationed in Burkina Faso have returned to France “late last week,” while Burkinabè diplomatic staff in France must leave by Monday evening, July 6, as stated by the French Foreign Ministry.
The Burkinabè chargé d’affaires in Paris was summoned to the ministry last Monday, shortly after Ouagadougou announced its unilateral decision on June 26 to cut diplomatic relations with France.
“In a spirit of reciprocity, Burkinabè diplomatic personnel have been notified that they must also depart France within seven days,” the Quai d’Orsay clarified.
A “hostile” decision
“We deeply regret this unfounded and hostile decision, which reflects the Burkinabè authorities’ troubling drift,” the French Foreign Ministry reiterated. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions,” it emphasized.
The French ministry also dismissed claims of supporting terrorist groups, calling them “completely false” accusations that Burkina Faso used to justify its decision to sever ties with Paris.
“We strongly condemn all terrorist attacks and the atrocities committed against civilians in the Sahel,” the ministry stated. “We reaffirm our full support for affected populations, who bear the brunt of this ongoing crisis.”
The Quai d’Orsay emphasized that France’s commitment to combating terrorism globally “is widely recognized, and it has come at a heavy cost.”
Heightened vigilance for French nationals
“In this context, we urge French nationals to exercise heightened vigilance,” it added.
According to the ministry, over 2,000 French citizens are registered with the consulate in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabè nationals reside in France.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup in September 2022, has pursued a sovereignist agenda in Ouagadougou, suppressing dissent and targeting Western nations, particularly France.
Burkina Faso’s government accuses Paris of “persistent activism” against its interests, though it insists the rift does not extend to people-to-people relations.
In 2023, months after taking power, the junta demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade, condemned a military agreement with Paris, and secured the withdrawal of French troops, which had long fought jihadist groups plaguing the country for over a decade.
The regime has since escalated its rhetoric against France, pivoting toward alternative partners such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
