Burkina's diplomatic break with France caps years of tensions
Military-led Burkina Faso has broken off diplomatic relations with France, its former colonial master and security partner, capping several years of tensions since a junta seized power in the west African country.
France has said it "regrets" the decision, which was announced late on Friday, calling it "hostile and baseless".
Junta chief captain Ibrahim Traore, 38, has pursued anti-Western policies since seizing power in a coup in September 2022, while critical voices are met with repression.
His government accuses France of "relentless activism" against its interests -- but insists its decision has no bearing on relations between the peoples of the two countries.
Here's a look at what the diplomatic break means:
Why now?
"It's the logical continuation of rather tense diplomatic relations," Ousmane Zina, associate professor of political science at Alassane Ouattara University in Ivory Coast, told AFP.
Traore "has repeatedly shown that France is no longer Burkina Faso's preferred partner", he added.
As early as 2023, just months after seizing power, the junta demanded the recall of France's ambassador to Ouagadougou, Luc Hallade.
It also kicked out French forces who were deployed in Burkina Faso to help fight jihadist groups that have waged deadly violence in the country for a decade.
Burkina has been forging closer ties with new partners such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.
But recent remarks by French MEP Christophe Gomart before the European Parliament criticising Burkina's junta over its security "failure" may have sparked the end of diplomatic relations.
Gomart also brought a resolution condemning the repression of civic space in the country which the MEPs adopted.
Days later, Burkina's foreign ministry summoned the European Union's ambassador in Ouagadougou.
Whether the resolution led to Burkina breaking off diplomatic relations is only "a hypothesis", Zina said, noting authorities had remained "rather evasive" about the reasons.
"But, it's not the first time that Europe has taken a swipe at the authorities in Ouagadougou," he added.
What are the consequences?
Leonard Lompo, director general of legal and consular matters at Burkina's foreign ministry, said the cutting of diplomatic ties meant "a cessation of official relations".
"This will result in the closure of the respective embassies, as well as the recall of diplomatic staff," he added.
A Burkinabe diplomatic source confirmed, on condition of anonymity, the possible repatriation of French staff.
"It is hard to believe that consular relations will be maintained, as visa services had already been reduced to the bare minimum," the source said.
If the consulates were to close, their services could be assured by a third state or according to mechanisms provided for under international law, Lompo said.
More broadly, "there is always the possibility of indirect communication" through other states, he added.
France on Friday said the move "illustrated the troubling drift of the Burkinabe authorities" and that "the necessary reciprocal measures are under review".
Remaining Burkina-France ties?
Firstly, human. More than 2,000 French citizens are registered with the consulate in Burkina, while more than 6,000 Burkinabes live in France, according to France's foreign ministry.
The junta said its decision only applied to "the institutional framework" and "in no way calls into question the historical, human, cultural and social ties that unite the Burkinabe and French peoples".
In Ouagadougou, the French high school and France's Research Institute for Development (IRD) are open.
On the economic front, relations "should normally continue because they involve individuals or, in any case, private (companies). These economic operators generally have dual nationality, which entitles them to certain advantages," the diplomatic source said.
Burkina hosted 59 subsidiaries of French companies in 2022, according to the French economy ministry's website.
Trade between the two countries has declined in recent years, it said.
France imports mainly agri-food products from Burkina, while its exports to Burkina consist of mechanical equipment and materials as well as pharmaceutical products.
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