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Burkina Faso has asked France to recall its ambassador, Luc Hallade, after several tense exchanges with the military junta that have strained relations between the two countries, Paris-based pan-African publication Jeune Afrique reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources in Paris.
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olivia Rouamba reportedly wrote to the French presidency “at the end of December” demanding a change of representative.
The development comes less than two weeks after Burkina Faso expelled UN resident coordinator Barbara Manzi.
In November, the French embassy in Ouagadougou accused Burkina Faso of failing to provide adequate protection to its premises, which were attacked during anti-French protests last year.
In July, Ambassador Hallade was forced to apologise for comparing militant violence in Burkina Faso to a civil war.
Burkina Faso is increasingly embracing Russia, seemingly under the influence of Mali which cut diplomatic ties with France last year after Paris condemned Bamako’s use of Russian mercenaries.