Burkina Faso’s Military Junta Expels French Diplomats

Relations between Burkina Faso and France have continued to worsen after the military junta in Burkina Faso expelled three French diplomats.

The diplomats were accused of “subversive activities,” although the junta failed to give details of their activities.

Local reports in the West African country say the diplomats met members of the civil society.

In a letter dated April 16, 2024, the French embassy men were declared persona non grata and given 48 hours to depart the African country.

France condemned the move and insisted that there were “no grounds” to remove its diplomats.

Related: Burkina Faso’s Military Recruits 35,000 Civilians To Fight Insurgency

The French foreign ministry described accusations against its embassy staff as “unfounded.”

“There were no legitimate grounds for the Burkinabé authorities’ decision. We can only deplore it,” French spokesman Christophe Lemoine told AFP.

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power through a coup in 2022, French relations with Burkina Faso, its former colony, have worsened.
Captain Traoré has leaned toward Russia and ended ties with France.

The Russian embassy was reopened in the country in December 2023, after it was shut down over 30 years ago.

Russia is also helping to strengthen the military capabilities of Burkina Faso in the fight against jihadists.

The junta has also shut down the French military base, signaling a lack of trust in French military operations in Burkina Faso.

In 2023, four French nationals were accused by the junta of being intelligence agents and detained. French sources refuted the allegation and said they were IT experts.