Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta has announced the severance of diplomatic relations with France, accusing Paris of engaging in actions detrimental to the nation’s interests.
Tensions between Ouagadougou and its former colonial partner have escalated sharply since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a 2022 coup. Since then, his administration has pursued a policy of distancing itself from Western influence and forging closer ties with new allies.
In a televised statement on Friday, Communications Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo accused France of displaying “relentless activism” against Burkina Faso and of harboring “neocolonial ambitions.”
France’s foreign ministry dismissed the move as “hostile and unfounded,” asserting that it reflects the “worrying drift” of Burkina Faso’s authorities. Paris also urged French nationals in Burkina Faso to exercise “increased vigilance.”
Burkina Faso, like neighboring Mali, has been battling a jihadist insurgency for over a decade. French forces previously supported counterinsurgency operations in the region but withdrew from the country after Traoré demanded their departure, alleging a “hidden agenda.” Ouagadougou has since strengthened ties with Russia and China.
In the statement announcing the diplomatic rupture, the Burkinabe government argued that conditions for “mutual respect” no longer exist. It specifically accused France of backing “subversive networks” and attempting to marginalize Burkina Faso internationally.
Authorities clarified that the decision pertains only to “the institutional framework of relations” and does not affect “historical, human, cultural, and social ties” between the peoples of Burkina Faso and France.
The junta had pledged a return to constitutional order by 2024 but missed that deadline. In January 2025, it also dissolved all political parties. That same year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—all under military rule—formally left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form the Alliance of Sahel States.
France has had no ambassador in Burkina Faso since January 2023. In 2024, Ouagadougou expelled three French diplomats on charges of “subversive activities,” allegations that Paris denied.
