Burkina Faso’s military junta has announced the severance of diplomatic relations with France, accusing Paris of actions that undermine the country’s national interests.

Ties between Ouagadougou and its former colonial power have crumbled since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a 2022 coup. Since then, his administration has pivoted toward new allies and openly criticized Western influence.

In a televised statement on Friday, Communications Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo accused France of “incessant activism” against Burkina Faso and condemned what he called “neocolonial ambitions.”

France’s foreign ministry dismissed the move as “hostile and baseless,” arguing it reflects a “worrying drift” by Burkina Faso’s authorities. Paris also urged its citizens in the country to heighten their vigilance.

Burkina Faso, like neighboring Mali, has been battling a jihadist insurgency for over a decade. French forces once conducted counterterrorism operations in the region before withdrawing.

After taking power, Captain Traoré demanded the departure of French troops stationed in Burkina Faso, accusing Paris of pursuing a “hidden agenda.” Ouagadougou has since deepened ties with Russia and China.

In its announcement severing diplomatic relations, the Burkinabe government said the conditions for “mutual respect” between the two countries no longer exist. It specifically accused France of backing “subversive networks” and working to sideline Burkina Faso internationally.

The authorities clarified that the decision applies only to the “institutional framework of relations” and does not affect the “historical, human, cultural, and social ties” between the Burkinabe and French peoples.

The junta had promised a return to constitutional order by 2024 but missed that deadline. In January 2025, it also dissolved all political parties.

Earlier that year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—all three under military rule—formally left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed the Alliance of Sahel States.

France has not had an ambassador in Burkina Faso since January 2023. In 2024, Ouagadougou expelled three French diplomats, accusing them of “subversive activities,” a charge Paris denied.