Recent negotiations between the junta-led government of Burkina Faso and France have resulted in the release of four French nationals, who were labelled spies by the Burkinabe authorities. These developments were made possible thanks to the mediation of Morocco. Interestingly, relations between France and Burkina Faso had been strained in recent years.
The arrest of the four French nationals in Ouagadougou in December 2023 sparked outrage in French and African media, citing accusations of espionage. These events came at a time when relations between France and its former colonies in the Sahel, notably Burkina Faso, were particularly tense. After two coups, the landlocked country of 20 million people decided to expel French forces and turn to Russia for security support.
The ruling junta has since joined forces with neighbouring countries to form the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance’s three member countries – Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – have all been struggling to contain security and humanitarian crises in the region. France has praised the efforts of Morocco and King Mohammed VI for facilitating talks that led to the release of French detainees.
Meanwhile, Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have sought to strengthen their security and trade partnerships in the Sahel region, taking advantage of France’s gradual withdrawal. Morocco, for its part, has sought to play a greater role as a diplomatic broker and economic partner, launching new initiatives to deepen ties and build infrastructure that will provide landlocked nations with new outlets to the Atlantic Ocean.
Since July, ties between France and Morocco have strengthened, including with Paris’ support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara. These developments underline Morocco’s key role in the Sahel region and its ability to play a mediating role, which could open new perspectives for regional and international cooperation in crisis resolution.