In a development adding strain to the already tense relations between Burkina Faso and France, four French information technology (IT) workers holding diplomatic passports and visas have been apprehended in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. Contrary to media speculations, a French diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, refuted claims that the detainees were intelligence agents.
According to the source, the four individuals, identified as civil servants, arrived in the West African nation to conduct IT maintenance for the French embassy. However, they were arrested on December 1 and subsequently transferred to Ouagadougou prison on December 14, as confirmed by the diplomatic insider.
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Earlier this week, French news magazine Jeune Afrique published an article asserting that the arrested individuals were operatives affiliated with France’s external intelligence agency DGSE—comparable to the United States’ CIA or the United Kingdom’s MI6.
In response, the French government, acknowledging the ongoing legal proceedings, vehemently denied any ulterior motives behind the technicians’ presence in Burkina Faso. The source insisted that their sole purpose was IT maintenance and called for their immediate return to France.
Despite attempts to seek clarification from the Burkinabe government, no official response has been received at the time of reporting.
These detentions come amid escalating tensions between Burkina Faso’s junta-led military authorities and France. The strained relations have recently resulted in expulsion orders for diplomatic officials, including the French ambassador, and the suspension of certain French media outlets in Burkina Faso.
The military’s ascendancy to power through two coups last year is part of a broader trend of army-led transitions in West Africa, which has gradually eroded France’s historically strong ties with the region. Anti-French sentiment is on the rise, posing additional challenges to diplomatic relationships.
Notably, Jeune Afrique magazine, itself a subject of controversy, was suspended by the junta in September for publishing articles deemed ‘untruthful’ regarding tension and discontent within Burkina Faso’s armed forces. The situation underscores the complex landscape of diplomatic relations in the region and the challenges faced by foreign entities operating in Burkina Faso amidst the evolving political dynamics.
Africabriefing
