Burkina Faso has officially severed diplomatic relations with France, which denounced the move as “hostile and baseless” and is considering reciprocal measures.

Tensions between Ouagadougou and Paris have escalated to a new level. On Friday, June 26, Burkina Faso announced the rupture of diplomatic ties with France, marking another milestone in the worsening relationship between the former colony and its colonial power.

In a statement read on national television, Burkinabe authorities accused France of “unrelenting activism against Burkina Faso’s interests, openly neo-colonial ambitions, and active support for subversive networks and terrorists that bring sorrow to our country and the Sahel.”

Ouagadougou also emphasized that the decision “targets only the institutional framework of diplomatic relations between the two states” and “does not in any way affect the historical, human, cultural, and social ties that unite the peoples of Burkina Faso and France,” reaffirming “its commitment to ensuring the protection of French nationals.”

Burkina Faso: France considers reciprocal measures

Taking note of this “unilateral decision,” the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over a “hostile and baseless” move, while indicating that reciprocal measures were under consideration.

“We call on French nationals to exercise heightened vigilance,” said French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux, noting that “French authorities are paying close attention to the safety of state personnel and the French community residing in Burkina Faso.”

Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power through a coup in September 2022, relations between Burkina Faso and France have steadily deteriorated. Ouagadougou secured the withdrawal of French forces, denounced military cooperation agreements, and suspended several French media outlets. Burkina Faso, a member of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) alongside Mali and Niger, has simultaneously strengthened partnerships with new allies, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran.