Burkina Faso declares two EU diplomats persona non grata

Two European Union diplomats stationed at the EU delegation in Ouagadougou have been declared persona non grata as of July 14, 2026. The decision affects the deputy head of the EU delegation responsible for press and information, along with the EU program manager in Burkina Faso.

The two officials have been given 72 hours to leave the country following the notification of this decision. The Burkinabè authorities have not provided any official explanation regarding the reasons behind this move.

This expulsion follows a recent diplomatic tension between Burkina Faso and the European Union. On June 22, the Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs summoned the EU ambassador, Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, to protest a resolution passed by the European Parliament. The resolution was deemed “hostile” and an “interference in Burkina Faso’s internal affairs.”

The deterioration in relations between Burkina Faso and the European Union marks a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy. Earlier, on June 26, Burkina Faso announced the severing of diplomatic ties with France, further underscoring the ongoing recalibration of alliances in the region.