France has strongly condemned a decision by the military government in Burkina Faso to completely break off diplomatic relations between the two nations.

In a televised broadcast, a Spokesperson for the Burkinabé regime announced that conditions for mutual respect with France no longer exist, accusing Paris of working against Burkina Faso’s national interests. The French government hit back at the decision, describing the move as hostile and entirely baseless.

Tensions have simmered since military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power, moving quickly to expel French troops who had been deployed in the West African nation for over a decade to help fight regional extremism. French President Emmanuel Macron has denied all claims of political interference, instead pointing to what he termed as ingratitude from the Burkinabé leadership.

–ChannelAfrica–