Burkina Faso’s military-led government has officially cut diplomatic ties with France, marking a further deterioration in relations between the two countries. The junta accused Paris of acting against Burkina Faso’s national interests and pursuing policies it described as incompatible with the country’s sovereignty.
Relations between Burkina Faso and its former colonial ruler have steadily worsened since Captain Ibrahim Traoré took power in a military coup in 2022. His administration has prioritized strengthening ties with new international partners while openly challenging what it describes as continued Western influence in the region.
In a televised address, Communications Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo accused France of maintaining “incessant activism” against Burkina Faso and pursuing “neo-colonial ambitions.” In response, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs rejected the allegations, calling the decision “hostile and unfounded” and expressing concern over the direction taken by Burkina Faso’s military authorities. France also advised its citizens in Burkina Faso to exercise increased caution.
Burkina Faso has battled Islamist insurgencies for more than a decade, alongside neighboring Mali. French forces were previously deployed in the country as part of regional counterterrorism operations before being asked to leave following Captain Traoré’s rise to power. The junta has repeatedly accused France of having a hidden agenda, allegations that Paris has consistently denied.
Since then, Burkina Faso has strengthened its diplomatic and security ties with countries such as Russia and China. The government says the decision to sever diplomatic relations reflects the breakdown of the mutual respect needed for state-to-state cooperation. Officials also accuse France of supporting subversive networks and attempting to isolate Burkina Faso internationally, although they stressed that the move affects only official diplomatic relations and does not alter the long-standing cultural, historical, and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
The military government had pledged to restore constitutional rule in 2024, but that transition has not taken place. In January 2025, the authorities announced the dissolution of political parties, further consolidating military control.
Burkina Faso has also reshaped its regional alliances. Along with Mali and Niger, it withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2025 to establish the Alliance of Sahel States, reflecting a broader shift in political and security cooperation across the region.
Diplomatic tensions with France had been escalating for some time. France has not had an ambassador in Burkina Faso since January 2023, and in 2024 the Burkinabe government expelled three French diplomats over alleged subversive activities, accusations that France strongly denied.
Source: BBC News Afrique
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