Burkina Faso’s military government has expelled three French diplomats over allegations of subversive activities, as stated in a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday, April 18th. The French foreign ministry swiftly responded, rejecting the accusations and expressing regret over the decision to expel its diplomats and staff. According to a statement from the French foreign ministry, they “reject the unfounded accusations made by the Burkina Faso authorities against our staff.”
The letter, dated April 16th and addressed to the French embassy, declared the three individuals, two of whom were listed as political advisers, as persona non grata and mandated their departure within 48 hours. However, the letter did not specify the nature of the alleged subversive activities.
A source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the diplomats were expelled due to their meetings with civil society members. This expulsion comes amid strained relations between Burkina Faso and France following the military junta’s seizure of power in a 2022 coup. Since then, the West African country has taken several measures, including expelling French troops, recalling the French ambassador, and suspending some French media outlets.
Burkina Faso’s military junta has faced criticism from international human rights organizations for its crackdown on freedom of speech and its intimidation of critics. These actions come as the junta grapples with a security crisis stemming from militant groups associated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The expulsion of French diplomats adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions between Burkina Faso and its former colonial ruler.
