Burkina Faso’s military government announced Friday that it has severed diplomatic ties with France, its former colonial ruler and a significant security partner. The junta stated its decision was effective immediately, accusing France of "blatant neo-colonial ambitions and active support for subversive networks and terrorists," though it did not provide evidence for these claims.
France’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the “hostile and unfounded decision,” calling it an illustration of the “worrying drift of the Burkinabè authorities.” The ministry added that reciprocal measures were under review and urged French citizens and government personnel in Burkina Faso to exercise heightened vigilance.
Burkina Faso, a West African nation of 23 million people, has been grappling with years of violence fueled by extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Government forces have also faced accusations of extrajudicial killings, contributing to the Sahel region’s designation as the world’s deadliest area for extremism.
"The conditions essential for fostering relations based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, and respect for the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and national sovereignty are no longer met,” said Burkina Faso’s Communications Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo in a statement explaining the move.
The military government has previously expelled French diplomats and demanded the recall of France's ambassador, citing alleged subversive activities and actions against the country’s interests. France had been Burkina Faso's primary security partner until a 2022 coup, after which the junta dismissed hundreds of French forces deployed to combat extremist groups.
Analysts suggest that the violence has escalated under the current military government, despite its promises to curb it. A recent Human Rights Watch report indicated that Burkinabè forces were allegedly responsible for a significant number of civilian deaths between January 2023 and August 2025, with government forces blamed for at least 1,200 of the 1,837 civilians killed during that period.