France withdraws diplomats from Burkina Faso

France has withdrawn all of its diplomats from Burkina Faso after Ouagadougou announced it was ending diplomatic ties with its former colonial ruler, the French Foreign Ministry said on July 6.

Burkina Faso’s chargé d’affaires in Paris was summoned and informed that Burkinabè diplomatic staff had until the evening of July 6 to leave France. All French diplomats in Burkina Faso returned to France “late last week,” the ministry said.

Burkina Faso cut diplomatic ties with Paris on June 26, accusing France of violating its sovereignty over security issues. Communications Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo accused France of supporting “subversive networks” and “terrorists” in the country. Paris described the accusations as “unfounded.”

Burkina Faso gained independence from France in 1960. Relations deteriorated after Captain Ibrahim Traoré took power in a 2022 coup. His administration pursued a pan-African agenda and accused France of economic exploitation and neocolonial attitudes.

French forces left Burkina Faso in 2023, and some French diplomats were expelled in 2024. Neighbouring Mali and Niger have also severed ties with France. The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States after withdrawing from the West African bloc ECOWAS.

SOURCE: AFP