Burkina Faso Frees French Nationals After Morocco’s Mediation
After Rabat intervened, Ouagadougou released four French nationals who had been detained for more than a year on espionage charges. Moroccan media previously reported that the French Directorate General for External Security (DGSE) confirmed the news on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for his intervention, reflecting warming ties between Paris and Rabat. The four men were arrested in Ouagadougou in December 2023 and accused of espionage. However, French officials denied the accusations and described the men as diplomatic civil servants working in technical jobs. The case highlights tensions in France’s relations with Burkina Faso, largely due to anti-French sentiment and policies following the 2022 coup of Ibrahim Traoré at a time when France’s influence in the Sahel region has waned. change. Morocco’s role in the release, meanwhile, highlights its improving relations with France, helped by Macron’s recent support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
source: France 24
