The President of the transition in Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has welcomed a Moroccan mediating facilitating the release of four French nationals detained in Ouagadougou since December 2023. Their release was announced on Wednesday.
Four French nationals held in Burkina Faso for a year have been set free following mediation from Morocco, said on Thursday, resolving a diplomatic row over their detention.
The head of France’s foreign intelligence agency, the DGSE, has previously stated that they were spies following their arrest in Ouagadougou since December 2023.
As per the French presidency in a statement, President Emmanuel Macron had thanked Morocco’s King Mohammed for his mediation which made possible the liberation of their four countrymen on Wednesday.
Morocco’s foreign ministry also applauded King Mohammed and Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore adding that « this humanitarian act » was made possible due to the good relations between their countries.
Following three years of tensions between Paris and Rabat fueled by immigration issues and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, France reconciled with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, in October this year after a series of moves.
While Morocco maintains good ties with Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel states, promising access to global trade through the Atlantic, France on its part, its ties with its former colonies in West and Central Africa, including Burkina Faso, remain strained.
Ouagadougou has expelled French troops and diplomats, ordered France’s defence attaché and ambassador to leave, and suspended some French media.
