Burkina Faso has officially ended diplomatic relations with France and ordered the French Embassy in Ouagadougou to shut down within seven days.
The military government issued the directive on June 26, giving France until early July to completely close its diplomatic mission.
The decision reportedly caught French officials by surprise due to the short deadline.
Following the announcement, France immediately suspended visa services in Burkina Faso.
About 2,500 French citizens still living in the country will now depend on other European Union member states for consular assistance.
France is also preparing to close Burkina Faso’s diplomatic missions on its territory in a reciprocal move.
Burkina Faso accused France of pursuing neocolonial interests and supporting networks linked to instability and terrorism in the Sahel region.
Communications Minister Gilbert Ouedraogo said the relationship could no longer continue because there was no longer mutual respect or non-interference.
The move marks a major shift in relations between the two countries, with Burkina Faso taking control of the timeline for ending the diplomatic partnership.
