Expulsion of Colonel Emmanuel Pasquier, military attaché at the French embassy in Ouagadougou following accusations of subversive activities
In an official letter dated Thursday, September 14, the Burkinabè transitional authorities announced the expulsion of Colonel Emmanuel Pasquier, military attaché at the French embassy in Ouagadougou. This decision aggravates tensions between the two governments and marks a new stage in the deterioration of bilateral relations.
The Burkinabè government withdrew Colonel Pasquier’s approval and granted him two weeks to leave the territory of Burkina Faso, as well as his team. The Burkinabè authorities accuse the French military attaché of subversive activities, without providing further explanations. France has refuted the accusations, calling them “fanciful”.
It should be noted that Colonel Pasquier was already at the end of his stay in Burkina Faso, and France had even proposed his replacement, without receiving a response from the Burkinabè authorities. This expulsion comes in addition to the closure of the Burkinabè military mission in Paris, announced in the same letter.
Captain Farouk Azaria Sorgho, spokesperson for the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration, denounced a project to “destabilize” the transition in Burkina Faso, with the complicity of certain foreign chancelleries, without naming them. He promised measures to come in the following hours or days.
This expulsion and the closure of the Burkinabè military mission in Paris demonstrate the deterioration of relations between France and Burkina Faso. Last March, Burkina had already denounced the military agreements concluded with France and demanded the withdrawal of the French Saber force from its territory. The government had also requested the departure of all French military personnel serving in the Burkinabè military administrations.
This new escalation of tensions between the two governments raises questions about the future of bilateral relations and the impact this could have on the political transition underway in Burkina Faso. It is crucial that the two sides manage to find common ground in order to maintain stability in the region and promote the development of the country.