Burkina Faso has cut diplomatic ties with France, marking the latest breakdown in relations between Paris and one of its former African colonies as military leaders across the Sahel continue to turn away from Western allies.
The military government led by Captain Ibrahim Traore announced on Friday that diplomatic relations with France had been formally severed with immediate effect following what it described as a review of bilateral ties.
In a statement broadcast on national television, Communications Minister Gilbert Ouedraogo said the conditions needed for a healthy relationship between the two countries no longer existed.
He said Burkina Faso could not maintain relations based on mutual respect, trust, non interference and national sovereignty while accusing France of acting against the country’s interests.
The government also claimed Paris had shown “neo colonial ambitions” by supporting subversive networks and armed groups operating in Burkina Faso and across the Sahel. France has repeatedly denied accusations that it supports militant organisations in the region.
Despite the diplomatic split, Burkina Faso stressed that the move applies only to state relations and does not affect the long standing cultural, historical and personal ties between the people of both countries. It also said French citizens living in Burkina Faso would continue to receive legal protection.
The decision is the latest sign of the rapidly changing political landscape in West Africa, where military governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have all reduced or ended military and diplomatic cooperation with France while strengthening ties with Russia and, increasingly, China.
France has already withdrawn thousands of troops from the Sahel after being asked to leave Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The three countries have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States, creating a new regional bloc focused on security cooperation outside the influence of the Economic Community of West African States.
Burkina Faso remains one of the countries hardest hit by Islamist violence. Armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State control large areas of territory and continue to launch deadly attacks despite repeated military operations.
The country has also faced growing international criticism over its human rights record. Earlier this year the military government dissolved all political parties and confiscated their assets, a move widely condemned by democracy campaigners. Human Rights Watch has also accused Burkina Faso’s security forces of carrying out mass killings of Fulani civilians that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The latest move represents another major setback for France’s influence in Africa. Over the past several years Paris has lost military partnerships, diplomatic standing and political influence across much of the Sahel as anti French sentiment has grown and new international partners have stepped in.
Burkina Faso’s announcement comes after similar disputes between France and the military governments in Mali and Niger, both of which expelled French ambassadors, ended defence agreements and demanded the withdrawal of French troops. Together, the three countries have reshaped the balance of power in one of Africa’s most unstable regions and signalled a decisive break from decades of close ties with their former colonial ruler.
