Burkina Faso breaks diplomatic ties with France, Paris urges caution for nationals

Ouagadougou has officially severed diplomatic relations with Paris, which condemns the move as “hostile and baseless” and is considering reciprocal measures.

Tensions between Burkina Faso and France have reached a new high. On Friday, June 26, the Burkinabe government announced the break in diplomatic ties, marking a significant escalation in the deteriorating relationship with its former colonial power.

In a statement read on national television, Burkinabe authorities accused France of “incessant activism against Burkina Faso’s interests, openly displayed neo-colonial ambitions, and active support for subversive networks and terrorists who cause grief in our country and across the Sahel.”

Ouagadougou also clarified that the decision “targets exclusively the institutional framework of relations between the two states at the diplomatic level” and “in no way affects the historical, human, cultural, and social bonds that unite the Burkinabe and French peoples,” reaffirming “its commitment to ensure the protection of foreign nationals.”

France studies reciprocal actions after Burkina Faso’s break

Reacting to what it termed a “unilateral decision,” the French Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the “hostile and baseless” move, announcing that reciprocal measures are under consideration.

“French authorities are paying close attention to the safety of state personnel in the country and of the French community residing in Burkina Faso. In this particular context, they call on French nationals to exercise heightened vigilance,” said Pascal Confavreux, spokesman for the French diplomatic service.

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a coup in September 2022, relations between Burkina Faso and France have steadily worsened. Ouagadougou secured the withdrawal of French forces, terminated military cooperation agreements, and suspended several French media outlets.

Burkina Faso, a member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) alongside Mali and Niger, has simultaneously strengthened partnerships with new allies, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran.