Burkina Faso has formally ended diplomatic relations with France, marking a dramatic escalation in the breakdown of ties between the West African nation and its former colonial ruler.
The announcement was made on Friday by the military government led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, which said the decision takes immediate effect.
In a statement broadcast on state television, the junta accused France of pursuing what it described as neo-colonial interests and supporting activities that undermine Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and security.
“The government of Burkina Faso informs the national and international community that it has decided to sever diplomatic relations with France effective June 26, 2026,” the statement said.
The authorities further alleged that Paris had continued to interfere in the country’s affairs by backing subversive groups and elements linked to insecurity in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region.
The move represents the latest chapter in the deteriorating relationship between the two countries since Traoré seized power in a military coup in September 2022.
Since then, his administration has adopted a tougher stance toward Western nations, particularly France, while strengthening ties with alternative partners such as Russia.
Despite the diplomatic rupture, the Burkinabe government stressed that the decision applies only to official state-to-state relations and does not affect people-to-people connections.
According to the statement, the move “does not call into question the historical, cultural, social and human ties” shared by citizens of both countries.
Burkina Faso has been battling a worsening insurgency for more than a decade, with armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State carrying out attacks across the country and the wider Sahel.
Anti-French sentiment has grown in several former French colonies in recent years, driven by criticism of Paris’ long-standing influence in African affairs and frustration over persistent security challenges despite years of military cooperation.
France, which once controlled vast territories across West and Central Africa, has repeatedly pledged to move away from its traditional “Françafrique” policy a system critics say allowed Paris to maintain political and economic influence over its former colonies long after independence.
The latest decision by Burkina Faso adds to a broader regional trend, with several military-led governments in the Sahel distancing themselves from France and seeking new diplomatic and security partnerships.
