The military junta in Burkina Faso has officially terminated diplomatic relations with France, accusing the French government of consistently working against the nation’s interests.
Diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and its former colonial power have deteriorated significantly since Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed power following a 2022 coup, ushering in a period of anti-Western policy shifts.
In a televised address on Friday, Communications Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo accused France of engaging in “ceaseless activism” against the country and characterized French involvement as driven by “neo-colonial ambitions.”
The French foreign ministry responded by labeling the decision “hostile and unfounded,” stating that it reflects a “troubling drift” by the Burkinabe administration.
Furthermore, France has advised its citizens currently in Burkina Faso “to exercise heightened vigilance.”
Burkina Faso, much like its neighbor Mali, has been engaged in a decade-long struggle against an Islamist insurgency, a conflict in which French military forces previously played a significant role.
Shortly after his rise to power, Captain Traoré ordered the expulsion of French troops. His administration has frequently alleged that France maintains a “secret agenda” in the region, leading the country to strengthen ties with Russia and China.
The recent statement from the Burkinabe government maintains that the conditions necessary for mutual respect are no longer present. The junta further alleges that France supports “subversive networks” and intends to marginalize Burkina Faso on the global stage.
The government clarified that while the decision to sever ties pertains strictly to the “institutional framework of relations,” it does not impact the “historical, human, cultural and social ties” shared between the French and Burkinabe people.
Although the junta originally committed to restoring democracy in 2024, it later reversed this stance, formally dissolving all political parties in January of this year.
In January 2025, Burkina Faso joined Mali and Niger in withdrawing from the regional bloc ECOWAS to establish a new coalition known as the Alliance of Sahel States.
France has not maintained an ambassador in Burkina Faso since January 2023, following a period of heightened friction that included the expulsion of three French diplomats in 2024 on allegations of “subversive activities”—claims which France has denied.
