France has officially withdrawn all its diplomats from Burkina Faso, following a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations. The move comes after Ouagadougou announced the complete severance of ties with Paris at the end of June.
All French diplomatic staff stationed in Burkina Faso have already returned to France as of last week, while Burkinabe diplomats in France are required to leave by the end of Monday, July 6, under a reciprocal arrangement.
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed the development, stating that the Burkinabe chargé d’affaires in Paris was summoned to the ministry last Monday to be informed of the reciprocal decision. “Within a spirit of reciprocity, it was made clear that Burkinabe diplomatic personnel must leave France within seven days,” a ministry spokesperson emphasized.
France denies terrorism support allegations
Paris strongly rejected accusations that it supports terrorist groups—a claim repeatedly made by Burkinabe authorities to justify the break in relations. “These allegations are completely false,” the Foreign Ministry declared, adding that France condemns all terrorist attacks and abuses against civilians in the Sahel region.
The ministry underscored France’s long-standing commitment to combating terrorism worldwide, noting that the country has paid a heavy price in this struggle. Over 2,000 French nationals are currently registered with the consulate in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabe citizens reside in France.
Heightened security alert for French nationals
The deterioration in relations between France and Burkina Faso stems from Ouagadougou’s sovereignist policies under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup in September 2022. His government has adopted an increasingly critical stance toward Western powers, particularly France, accusing Paris of “unrelenting activism” against Burkina Faso’s interests.
Since taking office, the junta has taken several measures to distance itself from France, including demanding the recall of the French ambassador, terminating military agreements, and expelling French troops that had been assisting in the fight against jihadist groups plaguing the country for over a decade.
The regime has since intensified its rhetoric against France and pivoted toward alternative partners, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
