The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all French diplomats stationed in Burkina Faso have been withdrawn as of early July. The move follows Burkina Faso’s decision to sever all diplomatic ties with France, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
All French diplomatic staff in Burkina Faso returned to France by the end of last week, while Burkinabe diplomatic personnel in France are required to leave the country by Monday evening, July 6, as stated by the French ministry.
The chargé d’affaires of Burkina Faso in Paris was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry last Monday, shortly after Ouagadougou announced on June 26 its unilateral decision to break diplomatic relations with France.
“In a spirit of reciprocity, the Burkinabe diplomatic staff were notified that they must also depart France within seven days,” the Quai d’Orsay stated.
a hostile decision condemned by France
“We deeply regret this unfounded and hostile decision, which reflects the troubling trajectory of the Burkinabe authorities,” the French Foreign Ministry reiterated. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions,” it added.
The ministry strongly denied allegations—labeled as “completely false”—that France supports terrorist groups, which Ouagadougou had cited as a reason for severing ties with Paris.
“We firmly condemn all terrorist attacks and the atrocities committed against civilians in the Sahel,” the ministry stated. “We reaffirm our unwavering support for the affected populations, who bear the brunt of this crisis.”
The Quai d’Orsay emphasized that France’s commitment to combating terrorism worldwide is widely recognized and has come at a heavy cost to the country.
heightened security alert for french nationals
The ministry urged French citizens in Burkina Faso to exercise extreme caution in light of the current situation. According to official records, more than 2,000 French nationals are registered with the consulate in Burkina Faso, while over 6,000 Burkinabe nationals reside in France.
The Burkinabe junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has pursued a sovereignist agenda since seizing power in September 2022, marked by crackdowns on dissent and hostility toward Western powers, particularly France. The government in Ouagadougou has accused Paris of “relentless activism” against its interests, though it claims this does not reflect the sentiments of the Burkinabe people.
In 2023, the junta demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, and terminated a military agreement with Paris, leading to the withdrawal of French troops who had been assisting in the fight against jihadist groups plaguing the region for over a decade.
Since then, the regime has intensified its rhetoric against France and has sought new alliances, including with Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
