France pulls all diplomats from Burkina Faso: ministry

All French diplomats in Burkina Faso returned to France "late last week", the ministry told AFP.

Burkina Faso's charge d'affaires was summoned to the French foreign ministry early last week and informed that Burkinabe diplomatic staff had to leave the European country by Monday evening, it added.

"We regret this hostile and unfounded decision, which illustrates the worrying drift of the Burkinabe authorities," the foreign ministry said, referring to the decision to break off diplomatic ties.

Relations between the west African country and France have deteriorated since the junta seized power in a September 2022 coup.

Junta chief captain Ibrahim Traore, 38, has pursued anti-Western policies since seizing power, 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.

As early as 2023, 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.