Four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year have been freed, thanks to Moroccan mediation, officials from France and Morocco confirmed on Thursday. Their release resolves a year-long diplomatic standoff.
The detainees, previously described by France’s foreign intelligence agency (DGSE) chief as spies, had been held in Ouagadougou since December 2023. Neither the DGSE nor France’s military has commented on the matter.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for his role in the negotiations, stating that his efforts were instrumental in securing the release. Morocco’s foreign ministry also commended both King Mohammed and Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré, attributing the outcome to strong bilateral ties.
The incident comes amid evolving relations between France, Morocco, and Burkina Faso. Paris and Rabat recently reconciled after three years of tension over immigration and Western Sahara, a disputed territory. Meanwhile, Morocco has maintained positive relations with Burkina Faso and other military-led Sahel states, offering them vital access to global trade through Atlantic routes.
In contrast, France’s ties with its former West and Central African colonies, including Burkina Faso, remain fraught. The junta in Ouagadougou has expelled French troops, diplomats, and media representatives since seizing power in a 2022 coup.
Burkina Faso, grappling with an insurgency linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State, faces criticism from rights groups for suppressing dissent and limiting freedoms under its military rule.
