Relationship dossier
Burkina Faso
France
Relationship assessment
Security partnership gave way to a sharp political and military rupture.
Burkina Faso toward France
-55Burkina Faso’s government demanded the departure of French forces in 2023, ending their military presence in the country. The demand marked a sharp break with the prior security partnership and reflected deteriorating relations with France.
France toward Burkina Faso
-35France maintained a security partnership that included deploying forces in Burkina Faso, then withdrew them in 2023 after the Burkinabè government demanded their departure. France suspended some assistance following the 2022 coup.
Overall relationship
-40The bilateral relationship shifted from substantial security cooperation to a major rupture after Burkina Faso’s 2022 coup. The end of the French military presence and France’s suspension of some assistance are central features of the current relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Burkina Faso and France had substantial security cooperation, including French military forces operating in Burkina Faso. Relations deteriorated sharply after Burkina Faso’s 2022 coup: the Burkinabè government demanded the departure of French forces, which withdrew in 2023. France also suspended some assistance after the coup. The recent breakdown in security cooperation and associated political tensions weigh heavily on a relationship that previously included practical cooperation.
Areas of tension
- Burkina Faso’s demand for the departure of French forces and the end of their military presence.
- French suspension of some assistance after Burkina Faso’s 2022 coup.
Key developments
Burkina Faso’s government demanded the departure of French forces; the forces withdrew later that year.
France suspended some assistance following Burkina Faso’s 2022 coup.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of remaining bilateral agreements are unclear.
- The extent of French assistance and other government cooperation after the military withdrawal is uncertain.