Burkina Faso Demands Closure of French Embassy Within Seven Days
Political
The authorities of Burkina Faso have officially notified Paris of the requirement to close the French Embassy in Ouagadougou within a seven-day period, starting from June 26. According to Le Monde, this move followed immediately after the announcement of a total severance of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Until recently, about 20 staff members, led by a chargé d'affaires, remained at the diplomatic mission, providing a minimal level of consular services since the departure of the French ambassador in January 2023.
The catalyst for Ouagadougou's firm decision was a European Parliament resolution adopted on June 18, which condemned the suppression of civil liberties in the African nation and was authored by French lawmaker Christophe Gomart. The government of Burkina Faso accused Paris of neocolonial ambitions, distorted coverage of internal events, and backing terrorist networks in the Sahel. The negotiation framework has reached a complete deadlock, as the Burkinabé side stated that the prerequisites for trust and respect for national sovereignty no longer exist. In response, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Paris is currently assessing potential countermeasures to the actions taken by the African authorities.
Powered by Froala Editor