The rift between Burkina Faso and its Western partners continues to widen. Burkina Faso's transitional authorities have declared two European Union (EU) diplomats stationed in Ouagadougou persona non grata . The two officials have been ordered to leave the country within 72 hours, illustrating a rapid deterioration in relations between the Sahelian nation and Brussels.

An expulsion without official justification, but expected.

According to the Burkina Information Agency (AIB), the two diplomats targeted are:

1. The deputy head of the European delegation, also responsible for the political, press and information section.
2. A program officer from the institution.

Although the Burkinabe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen not to officially communicate the exact reasons for this decision, it comes in a climate of heightened mutual distrust.

The spark of discord: the European Parliament resolution

Tensions had already escalated on June 22nd. Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, summoned the EU representative in Ouagadougou. The reason: a European Parliament resolution concerning the country's security and political situation. Deemed "hostile" and labeled "interference in internal affairs" by the transitional authorities, this text sealed the breakdown of trust. The expulsion of the two diplomats thus appears to be the logical consequence of this confrontation.

This firmness is fully in line with the doctrine of absolute sovereignty displayed by Burkina Faso and its partners in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Mali and Niger, who are increasingly breaking with Western chancelleries.

A complete break with Paris

This new diplomatic incident comes just weeks after the announcement, on June 26, of the official break in diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and France.

A powerful symbol of this break: on July 13, the Minister of Foreign Affairs officially received twelve Burkinabè diplomats returning from Paris. They symbolically handed him the keys to the embassy and the national flag that had been flying there, thus formalizing the definitive closure of the chancery in France.