Several French diplomats and employees have been denied visas by the Burkina Faso authorities, reflecting the worsening relations between the two nations, according to a report by Jeune Afrique, citing a source familiar with the situation.
The visa denials have affected several individuals, including the new director of a French school in Ouagadougou and some gendarmes assigned to provide security for France's chargé d'affaires in Burkina Faso. The publication notes that relations between Paris and Ouagadougou have “dramatically deteriorated” since a military group took power in Burkina Faso in 2022.
In December 2022, Burkina Faso expelled French Ambassador Luc Hallade, leaving the French embassy under the leadership of the first counselor, Philippe Duporge. The embassy has since faced staffing challenges, including the expulsion of two political advisers in April 2024, who were declared persona non grata for “subversion.” These positions remain unfilled.
The situation at the French embassy has become increasingly tense, with staff required to pass through a cordon of Burkinabe security forces each time they enter. Jeune Afrique reports that pressure is mounting, as a pro-Traoré civil society group has issued an ultimatum for the embassy to relocate, citing its proximity to the residence of Burkina Faso's leader as a “threat” to the transitional authorities.
A source told Jeune Afrique that Burkina Faso's authorities are employing a “stranglehold method” similar to that seen in Niger. The source warned that if the visa situation remains unchanged, the lack of staff to secure the embassy could force France to withdraw from the country.
In September 2022, a military coup led to Captain Ibrahim Traoré seizing power in Burkina Faso. The new leadership dissolved the government, suspended the constitution, and halted all political activity. In 2023 and 2024, Burkina Faso expelled several French diplomats and downgraded the status of the French language from an official language to a working language in December 2023.
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Based on materials from TASS