France will not withdraw support for Burkina Faso despite tensions

Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Associations of France, met with Ibrahim Traore, who came to power in the coup on September 30, 2022 and was proclaimed President, during her visit to Burkina Faso.

In a statement to the press after the meeting, Zacharopoulou said that France will continue to support Burkina Faso, which is experiencing difficulties. Noting that France does not impose any tax on Burkina Faso, Zacharopoulou affirmed that his country is ready to build a common future with Burkina Faso.

Underlining that neither the European Union nor France would fail Burkina Faso in such an environment, Zacharopoulou stressed that France will remain in the country as long as there is demand. Expressing that they discussed the tension between President Traore and the French ambassador in Vagadugu, Luc Hallade, Zacharopoulou noted that they know that Burkina Faso wants to see a new face as ambassador and that they are “open to dialogue” on this issue.

BURKINA FASO REACTED TO THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR

In late December, the Burkina Faso government demanded that France fire Vagadugu ambassador Luc Hallade and replace Hallade with another name.
The government claimed that Hallade was no longer a reliable interlocutor and stated that they did not want to work with him.

It was claimed that on December 12, 2022, Hallade asked French citizens living in the city of Koudougou, 100 kilometers from the capital Vagadugu, to leave the city for security reasons, and the government demanded Hallade’s dismissal for this reason.

Despite the rumors, the Burkina Faso government did not explain the reason for the decision. It is still unknown if the French ambassador left Burkina Faso.

A few days before this request, the United Nations Coordinator Barbara Manzi residing in Burkina Faso was declared persona non grata.

Allegations that deposed leader Paul-Henri Damiba took refuge in the French Embassy after the military coup in Burkina Faso on September 30, 2022 stirred the streets. Following the complaints, protesters gathered around the French embassy tried to enter the building shouting anti-French slogans. The protesters, who were unable to enter the embassy, ​​set fire to the building’s entrance.
Since then, the French Embassy has been closed to the public and security measures around it have been increased.

At the demonstration held on November 18, 2022, protesters gathered in front of the embassy chanted anti-French slogans and attempted to attack the embassy building with sticks and stones. (AA)