The transitional authorities in Burkina Faso have requested the definitive departure of all French military personnel serving in the Burkinabe military administrations. This was done in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated Tuesday 28 February 2023.
Through this note, the government of Burkina Faso ‘denounces the technical military assistance agreement concluded in Paris on 24 April 1961 between the Republic of Upper Volta and the French Republic, including its two annexes’.
The ruling junta, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “also informs the French party that this denunciation takes effect within one (01) month of its receipt and would be grateful for any diligent measures that it would like to see taken with a view to the definitive departure of all French military personnel serving in Burkina Faso’s military administrations,” the document states.
As a reminder, in January 2023, Burkina Faso denounced the 2018 agreement governing the presence of French Armed Forces soldiers in Burkina Faso and called for the departure of French troops deployed on its territory. On 18 February, the two sides organised the solemn flag-lowering ceremony marking the official end of the Task Force’s operations from Burkinabe soil.
The country of upright men would like to rely from now on on its own army, its VDPs and the partners who are willing to deliver arms to lead the fight against terrorism. But the Burkinabe authorities have made it clear that the end of military cooperation with France does not mark the end of diplomatic relations.
Since the coup of 30 September 2022, the second in the space of eight months in Burkina Faso, diplomatic relations between Paris and Ouagadougou have deteriorated significantly. So much so that the broadcasting of Radio France Internationale (RFI) programs has been suspended until further notice for “shortcomings” by the ruling military junta. In addition, French diplomatic premises were ransacked during the anti-French demonstrations, two French citizens were expelled from the country and the political authorities also requested the replacement of the French ambassador in Burkina Faso.
