All French diplomats stationed in Burkina Faso have returned to France “late last week,” and Burkinabe diplomatic staff must leave France by Monday evening, July 6, the French foreign ministry announced. The chargé d’affaires of Burkina Faso in Paris was summoned to the ministry last Monday following Ouagadougou’s June 26 decision to unilaterally sever diplomatic ties with France.

“In a spirit of reciprocity, it was made clear that Burkinabe diplomatic personnel must also leave France within seven days,” the Quai d’Orsay stated.

France labels decision “hostile” and “unfounded”

“We deeply regret this hostile and baseless decision, which reflects the alarming drift of Burkinabe authorities,” the French foreign ministry reiterated. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions from this situation,” it added.

The ministry also strongly denied allegations that France supports terrorist groups, calling them “completely false” accusations used by Ouagadougou to justify the rupture. “We firmly condemn all terrorist attacks and abuses against civilians in the Sahel, reaffirming our unwavering support for affected populations,” it stated.

The Quai d’Orsay emphasized that France’s commitment to combating global terrorism is well-known and has come at a heavy cost to the nation.

Heightened vigilance for French nationals

“In this context, we urge French nationals in Burkina Faso to exercise heightened vigilance,” the ministry added.

Over 2,000 French citizens are registered with the consulate in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabe nationals reside in France.

Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has pursued a sovereignist agenda in Ouagadougou, cracking down on dissent and adopting an adversarial stance toward Western powers, particularly France. The Burkinabe government has accused Paris of “relentless activism” against its interests, though it claims relations between the two peoples remain unaffected.

In 2023, the junta demanded the recall of France’s ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade, denounced a military agreement with Paris, and secured the withdrawal of French troops, which had long been engaged in combating jihadist groups plaguing the country for over a decade.

The regime has since escalated its rhetoric against France and pivoted toward alternative partners, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran.