Burkina Faso Deports French Correspondents, Media Report

In March this year, Burkina Faso suspended French broadcaster France 24 after the news outlet had an interview with the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)* leader. Another French broadcaster, Radio France International (RFI), was suspended in the African country in December 2022.

Burkina Faso expelled two reporters – one each from the French dailies Le Monde and Liberation – on April 1, reports say.

According to French media, the two journalists arrived in Paris on April 2 after being expelled the day before.

Earlier this week, on March 27, Burkina Faso's transitional authorities decided to suspend France 24, following its interview with the head of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)*.

RFI (Radio France Internationale) was suspended in the West African country in early December 2022.

French media have lately also been experiencing controversy in other parts of Africa. France's RFI was criticized by Beninese President Patrice Talon in mid-March, as he accused it of "rejoicing in the real or imaginary setbacks" of the country.

Moreover, both France 24 and RFI were permanently turned off in Mali in April 2022, as, according to the African nation's authorities, the French public news services were making "false allegations" about Mali's army.

Overall, in recent months relations between Burkina Faso and France have deteriorated significantly. In January this year, Ouagadougou suspended a 2018 military cooperation agreement with Paris, under which French troops were stationed in the West African country. Moreover, the Burkinabe government demanded that the French military withdraw from the country within a month.

Later in January, France announced its decision to recall its ambassador ''for consultations" and to withdraw French troops from the African country. Consequently, France put an end to its military operations in Burkina on February 20.

*A terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.