Key Points
- Four French nationals freed after a year in detention.
- Morocco’s King Mohammed played a key role in mediation.
- France’s relations with Burkina Faso remain strained after the release.
French and Moroccan officials said Thursday that a diplomatic issue over the imprisonment of four French nationals who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year had been resolved after Morocco mediated their release.
French nationals released after yearlong detention in Burkina Faso
They were previously accused of being spies by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organization, the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE). Requests for comment were not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of it. Since December 2023, the four have been held in Ouagadougou.
According to a statement released by the French administration, President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his mediation, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year.”
King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry for enabling the release, which it described as “a humanitarian act” made possible by their close relations.
The disputed territory of Western Sahara and immigration issues had caused tensions between Paris and Rabat for three years. Following a number of diplomatic initiatives, the two nations reunited in October.
Diplomatic ties between France, Morocco, and Burkina Faso shift
As stated by Reuters, Morocco keeps tight ties with Burkina Faso and other Sahelian nations under military control, providing them with access to international trade via the Atlantic.
The relationship between France and its former colonies in Burkina Faso and other parts of West and Central Africa has deteriorated. The French ambassador and defense attaché have been asked to leave Burkina Faso, French media outlets have been suspended, and French troops and diplomats have been expelled.
International rights organizations have criticized the West African country, which is run by a military junta that took control in a coup in 2022, for suppressing free expression and bullying opponents. Militant organizations associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are contributing to the junta’s deteriorating security situation.
