EU summons Burkina Faso ambassador over expulsions of two diplomats

The European Union summoned Burkina Faso's ambassador after the West African country decided to expel two diplomats from the EU delegation.

EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said online that the bloc strongly protested what it called Burkina Faso's unjustified decision. She said the EU had received no explanation for the expulsions, that the ambassador had been summoned, and that retaliatory measures would follow.

The move against the EU representation follows Burkina Faso's June decision to sever diplomatic ties with France, its former colonial ruler. France responded this month by withdrawing all its diplomats from Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has pursued anti-Western policies since taking power in 2022. The authorities summoned the EU ambassador last month over a European Parliament resolution and comments by a French member of the European Parliament who criticised what he called the failure of the junta, which is fighting jihadists.