Moscow, July 6 (RIA Novosti/GNA) – France has informed Burkina Faso that all Burkinabe diplomatic staff must leave French soil by Monday evening after the Sahel nation severed diplomatic ties with Paris, Le Monde newspaper reported, citing the French Foreign Ministry.
On June 26, Burkina Faso announced the severance of diplomatic relations with France in response to Paris’ attempts to “dominate and subjugate the country to its will.” The French Foreign Ministry later said Paris was considering options for retaliatory measures. All French diplomats reportedly returned from Burkina Faso to France last week.
Burkinabe charge d’affaires was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry early last week and informed that, in a spirit of reciprocity, Burkinabe diplomatic personnel must also leave France within seven days – that is, by the evening of July 6.
The French Foreign MInistry said that it regretted “this hostile and unfounded decision, which illustrates the worrying drift of the Burkinabe authorities,” according to the report.
In June, the European Parliament adopted a resolution alleging the suppression of civil activity and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso. The text was authored by French EU lawmaker Christophe Gomart.
GNA/RIA Novosti