According to Radio France International (RFI), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on June 26 local time that the decision by Burkina Faso to sever its diplomatic relations with France is 'hostile and unfounded', highlighting Burkina Faso's 'disturbing policy shift'. The French side is considering corresponding countermeasures.
Earlier that day, the government of Burkina Faso issued a statement on state television, stating that Burkina Faso had decided to sever its diplomatic relations with France starting from that day.
Burkina Faso condemns the French actions that continuously harm Burkina Faso's interests. France, with its overt neo-colonial ambitions, actively supports Burkina Faso's "subversive networks" and "terrorists," which are causing suffering in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region.
Bouffard stated that the decision to sever relations 'only involves the diplomatic level between the two countries', but 'it does not question the historical, cultural, and social bonds between the people of Burkina Faso and the people of France'.
The Ministry of Health also reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens. Currently, thousands of Burkina Faso citizens reside in France.
As early as 2023, Burkina Faso demanded that the French ambassador leave the country. Later, it also refused to issue approval documents for new French diplomats to reside in its territory.
Public records show that Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in western Africa. Burkina Faso was occupied by France from 1895 to 1896 and became part of French West Africa. In December 1958, it became an autonomous republic within the French Community. On August 5, 1960, it declared independence and was named the Republic of Upper Volta. In 1984, then-President Thomas Sankara announced that the country's name would be changed to “Burkina Faso”.
France once colonized large areas of North Africa, Central Africa, and West Africa, and has carried out military interventions in Africa on several occasions since the early 1960s. Under the so-called "Françafrique" system managed by France, France used political collusion, market monopolies, and corrupt financial transactions to firmly control French-speaking Africa.
In recent years, France has attempted to reposition its role in Africa by claiming to abandon the "Franco-African partnership" strategy. However, it has not completely dispelled external doubts about France's "predatory logic" in Africa.
