Burkina Expels French Defense Attaché Over Alleged “Subversive Activities”

Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially informed France of its decision to expel the military attaché, Emmanuel Pasquier, from the French embassy, citing “subversive activities.” This move signals further deterioration in the once-strong relations between these former allies.

In a letter disclosed to AFP on Friday, the ministry set a two-week deadline for Pasquier and his team to leave the Sahel nation. Burkina Faso has experienced two military coups within the past year, making this expulsion all the more significant. Additionally, the letter announced the closure of the French military mission in Ouagadougou.

France, which had previously withdrawn its troops from Burkina Faso due to escalating tensions following Captain Ibrahim Traore’s seizure of power in September 2022, vehemently denied the accusations.

A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry in Paris responded, stating, “The accusation of subversive activities is clearly unfounded.”

Following the September coup, France recalled its ambassador from Ouagadougou and has not appointed a replacement since then.

In recent months, Burkinabe authorities have taken actions against French media outlets, including suspending LCI and France24, as well as Radio France Internationale (RFI). Correspondents from French newspapers Liberation and Le Monde were also expelled.

Since France’s military withdrawal in January, Burkina Faso has fostered closer ties with Russia, which supports the junta in neighboring Mali.

Junta leader Captain Traore, in a recent interview, emphasized that Burkina Faso does not consider itself an “enemy of the French people” but rather opposes the policies of the French government. He called for a reevaluation of their cooperation and suggested that France had been ineffective in aiding the Burkinabe army against the ongoing jihadist insurgency.

This impoverished, landlocked nation faced an Islamist insurgency originating from Mali in 2015, resulting in over 17,000 casualties among civilians, troops, and police, according to an NGO monitoring group. Over two million people have been displaced, creating one of Africa’s most severe internal displacement crises.

The discontent within the armed forces led to a coup on January 24, 2022, toppling elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Subsequently, on September 30, Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, Kabore’s rival, was overthrown by 34-year-old Traore, who has pledged to return the country to democracy with presidential elections scheduled for July 2024.

Captain Traore met Russian President Vladimir Putin in July during the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg and continued discussions in August with a Russian delegation on development and military cooperation.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Olivia Rouamba emphasized Burkina Faso’s need to “strengthen bilateral cooperation” with Iran and President Ebrahim Raissi.