Burkina Faso’s military junta announced an immediate and total rupture of formal diplomatic ties with Paris on Friday evening. The statement, issued by the Prime Minister's Office and communicated by Communications Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouédraogo, noted that the decision followed "a thorough assessment of the current state of bilateral relations."

"The conditions essential for promoting relations based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, respect for the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and national sovereignty are no longer in place," the Burkinabè government declared. 

The junta further accused Paris of persistent activism against Burkinabè interests, alleging "blatant neo-colonial ambitions" and active support for "subversive networks and terrorists" operating within the region.

The French Foreign Ministry responded swiftly to the announcement. Spokesperson Pascal Confavreux firmly rejected the allegations, characterizing the immediate cutoff as an unfounded decision that "illustrates the worrying drift of the Burkinabè authorities."

Paris indicated that it is actively monitoring the safety of its remaining diplomatic personnel and expatriates, urging French citizens in the country to exercise heightened vigilance. The ministry also signaled a firm diplomatic counter-response, confirming that necessary reciprocal measures are currently under review.

Relations between Paris and several Sahelian capitals have imploded in recent years following successive military coups. Regional governments have aggressively rolled back their traditional political, military, and diplomatic reliance on the West.

France, which long maintained extensive post-colonial influence in West and Central Africa, had already withdrawn its military forces and suspended development aid to Burkina Faso in 2023.

This formal diplomatic break aligns with a broader foreign policy shift by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as they pivot away from European partnerships to diversify international cooperation and strengthen ties with alternative global powers.