Burkina Faso declares two eu diplomats persona non grata

The Burkina Faso government has declared two European Union diplomats persona non grata, ordering their immediate expulsion from the country. The decision, announced on July 14, 2026, affects the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in charge of press and information, as well as the EU Programme Manager, according to local diplomatic sources.

The two officials have been given a 72-hour deadline to leave Burkina Faso, effective from the date of notification. No official explanation has been provided regarding the reasons behind this unprecedented move.

Diplomatic tensions escalate between Burkina Faso and the EU

This expulsion comes just weeks after Burkina Faso summoned the EU Ambassador, Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, for questioning by the country’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré. The meeting followed the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament that Burkina Faso deemed hostile and an unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.

The deteriorating relations between Ouagadougou and Brussels mark another chapter in the ongoing diplomatic rift. Earlier, on June 26, Burkina Faso announced the severance of all diplomatic ties with France, further straining its international partnerships.

While the motives behind the expulsion remain unclear, this development underscores the growing strain between Burkina Faso and its Western allies, particularly within the Sahel region.