Burkina Faso, under the leadership of military junta chief Captain Ibrahim Traoré, declared its decision to sever diplomatic ties with France last Friday.

French diplomatic personnel stationed in Burkina Faso completed their return to France by the end of last week. Concurrently, Burkinabe diplomatic staff have been directed to depart France by Monday, July 6, as confirmed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following Ouagadougou’s unilateral declaration on June 26 to terminate diplomatic relations with France, the Burkinabe chargé d’affaires in Paris received a summons to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs this past Monday. During this meeting, a reciprocal directive was issued, mandating that Burkinabe diplomatic staff also vacate France within seven days, specifically by this Monday evening, a French official clarified.

The French Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret over what it termed “this hostile and baseless decision,” asserting that it highlights a concerning trajectory taken by the Burkinabe authorities. “We have acted in response to these developments,” a spokesperson affirmed.

Furthermore, the French ministry vehemently rejected any accusations of supporting terrorist factions, branding such claims—which Ouagadougou cited as justification for the diplomatic rupture—as “entirely false.”

“We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism and the atrocities perpetrated against civilians across the Sahel region,” the ministry stated, adding, “Our full solidarity remains with the populations, who bear the brunt of the ongoing crisis.”

Paris underscored France’s globally recognized commitment to counter-terrorism efforts, noting the significant sacrifices made. “Given this specific situation, we urge all French nationals to exercise heightened vigilance,” the statement advised.

The ministry’s data indicates that more than 2,000 French citizens are officially registered with the consulate in Burkina Faso, while over 6,000 Burkinabe nationals reside in France.

Persistent tensions and policy shifts

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of the junta who ascended to power following a September 2022 coup d’état, has implemented a staunchly sovereignist agenda in Ouagadougou. This policy is characterized by its suppression of critical voices and a pronounced hostility towards Western nations, particularly France. While the Burkinabe government has accused Paris of “incessant activism” detrimental to its interests, it has maintained that the strained diplomatic relations do not extend to the ties between the respective populations.

In 2023, merely months into its governance, the junta initiated a series of significant policy shifts. These included demanding the recall of Luc Hallade, France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, repudiating a military accord with Paris, and orchestrating the withdrawal of French forces, who had for a decade been instrumental in combating jihadist groups destabilizing the nation. Since then, the regime has escalated its criticisms of France and actively forged new alliances with countries such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.