Burkina Faso’s military government sends French Emmanuel Pasquier and his staff packing
By Daily Tab24. Updated: Sep 17, 2023.
Determined to cut all ties with France, Burkina Faso has announced the withdrawal of approval of Mr Emmanuel Pasquier, French defense attaché in the country. Mr Emmanuel Pasquier is expected to leave the French embassy in Burkina Faso within the next two weeks for alleged “subversive activities”. The military government announced the decision.
This follows a culture of expelling French in the Sahel countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and recently Niger. Burkina Faso also said that the French military mission in Ouagadougou would be closed. French has come under intense pressure to leave Sahel region of Africa, with the countries in the region undergoing coups that have not been favorable to the French and their interests.
The expulsion was communicated through a letter that was sent to the French Military mission. The team of Mr Emmanuel Pasquier are also expected to leave with him, underlining a definite closure of the French military mission in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso which suffered two coups last year had had turbulent relations with the French, pushing French to the extreme. French troops were withdrawn from the country after Paris succumbed to intense pressure. Since Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power, his hostility towards the French has been immense.
The expulsion is coming after Burkina Faso formed alliance with Mali and Niger. The alliance is focused towards military aid and joint intelligence gathering, with aim of ending terrorism and countering external aggression. The protection and preservation of territorial integrity of the three countries summed the charter.
The accusation of “subversive activities” by Burkina Faso against the French was quickly denied by Paris, labeling it a fanciful one. “The accusation of subversive activities is obviously fanciful” a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in Paris.
The military government of Burkina Faso has been ruthless with French interests in the country, and forced Paris to recall its ambassador in Ouagadougou immediately after the coup in fear of attack by the ruthless captain that has shown strong resolve to deal with the French for their years of neo-colonial influence in the country.
Burkina Faso has decided to internally confront the armed conflicts facing the country with their neighbors, ditching French military aid the country claimed worsened their situation. There have been sentiments in the country that French troops have no intention of fighting for the country, but to occupy the country and exploit it.
Recently, Captain Traore ordered the closure of Francophone media houses and institutions, accusing them of one-sided reportage. All pro-French institutions, offices, groups and persons have been strongly targeted. The military leader has denied he hate French, but would not watch and see exploitation and neo-colonialism fester in the country.
Captain Traore also claimed he is overhauling his country’s cooperation with France and have no hatred for the French people. He also claimed that French has contributed nothing to Burkina Faso, even in the fight against terrorism. There is belief within the country that the Captain wants his country to solve the problem ravaging them, instead of rely on foreign troops.
Burkina Faso has also communicated to Paris of its intention to close down its military mission in Paris, drawing the cotton on any form of military cooperation between the two countries.
