Burkina Faso’s government has ordered three French diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, according to a letter from the foreign ministry obtained by Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agencies.
The expelled diplomats were identified as Gwenaelle Habouzit, Herve Fournier, and Guillaume Reisacher. However, the government did not provide specific details regarding the allegations against them.
Since seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Burkina Faso’s military government has increasingly distanced itself from France, its former colonial ruler. This move has included the expulsion of French troops, suspension of some French media outlets, and repeated accusations of espionage against French officials.
The strained relations between the two nations reached a new level on December 1 last year when Burkinabe authorities arrested four French officials holding diplomatic passports in the capital city, Ouagadougou. These officials were subsequently charged with spying, as reported by Le Monde newspaper. Despite France’s assertion that they were IT support staff, the individuals remain under house arrest, according to security sources in Burkina Faso.
The expulsion of the three French diplomats is the latest development in the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Burkina Faso and France. The situation underscores the growing rift between the two nations and raises concerns about the future of their relationship.
