Burkina Faso's military gov't asks French Ambassador to leave country
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Burkina Faso asks French Ambassador to leave the country after he sent a letter to French citizens in early December asking the French people to move out of the city of Kodagu due to security reasons.
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Burkinabe demonstrators protest against France and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 (AP Photo/Kilaye Bationo)
Burkina Faso's military government asked the French Ambassador to leave the country after he allegedly asked his compatriots to move out of a city due to security concerns, French newspaper Le Monde reported, citing sources.
Luc Hallade, who has served since 2019 as ambassador, was asked to leave Burkina Faso in a letter that the country's government sent in late December to the French Foreign Ministry, according to Le Monde, which sources in the African nation's government confirmed the content of the letter.
The newspaper also stated that the authorities did not provide any reasons for the decision, while some sources said that the foreign ministry decided to take such action against Hallade due to a letter he sent to French citizens in early December asking the French people to move out of the city of Kodagu due to security reasons.
Read: At least 14 killed in two attacks in Burkina Faso
This comes less than a month after the Burkinabe Foreign Ministry declared UN Resident Coordinator Barbara Manzi persona non grata and asked her to leave the country immediately without providing any official reason.
Burkina Faso witnessed a number of political crises over the past year, with the two governments subsequently overthrown over the course of nine months.
Read: Burkina Faso military government overthrown: Army captain
The deterioration in the country's security situation has been used to justify the two coups in 2022. The first, in January, saw a military junta led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba overthrow elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
The second, in September, saw Captain Ibrahim Traore come to power as he and his supporters ousted Damiba.
Relations between Burkina Faso and France have been worsening in light of its failure to contain terrorist groups and activities across the country. France has previously occupied the country and ruled it with an iron fist while still intervening in its internal affairs to this day, ruining the lives of many.
Read: 28 bodies found in Burkina Faso's northwest over weekend: govt
