Burkina Faso Breaks Diplomatic Ties With France, Aligns With Sahel Bloc

Burkina Faso’s military government announced the severance of diplomatic ties with France after expelling French troops and accusing Paris of a secret agenda and subversive activities, signaling a pivot toward China and Russia and toward a new regional bloc with Mali and Niger. The junta had dissolved political parties in January and had pledged to restore democracy, a pledge it reneged on; France has had no ambassador in Ouagadougou since 2023 and expelled three French diplomats in 2024, though France denies the accusations. The move accompanies Burkina Faso’s broader realignment away from ECOWAS.