Burkina Faso has severed diplomatic relations with France, a move that underscores the crumbling influence of former colonial powers in West Africa. The junta-led government in Ouagadougou announced the decision late Tuesday, accusing Paris of destabilising the region and supporting terrorist groups. Sources close to the Burkinabe presidency confirm that the rupture is immediate, with diplomats given 72 hours to leave the country.
This is not a bolt from the blue. France has been watching its alliances unravel across the Sahel for years. Mali and Niger have already kicked out French troops and ambassadors. Now Burkina Faso joins the club, leaving France without a single military foothold in the region. The French foreign ministry called the move 'regrettable but expected', a classic understatement for a diplomatic train wreck.
For the UK, this is a wake-up call. British officials have long preached the gospel of 'Global Britain', but the country’s presence in Africa is mostly talk and little action. Now, with France in retreat, Whitehall sources confirm that the government is under pressure to step up. 'We cannot afford to let the vacuum be filled by Russia or China,' a senior Foreign Office official told me. 'We need to offer real partnerships, not lectures.'
The numbers tell a grim story. UK trade with sub-Saharan Africa has stagnated at around £10 billion, a fraction of what China does. The UK’s development budget has been slashed from 0.7% to 0.5% of GNI. Meanwhile, Russia’s Wagner Group, now rebranded as Africa Corps, is spreading across the Sahel like a stain. They offer security and propaganda, and the junta leaders are taking it.
But here’s the dirty secret: the UK has little leverage. Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has made it clear he wants new partners who do not 'interfere' with sovereignty. That means no strings attached, no human rights conditions. The UK’s aid money comes with audits and governance clauses. The Russians ask no questions.
Uncovered documents from the Burkinabe mining ministry show that the country is rich in gold and manganese, resources that Western companies have historically dominated. The junta has already revoked permits from French firms. British miners, like Endeavour Mining, have operations in the country, but they are nervous. 'If the government can kick out France, they can nationalise our mines,' one executive told me, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The UK’s response so far has been cautious. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are monitoring the situation closely and remain committed to supporting peace and stability in the Sahel.' That is diplomatic speak for 'we have no plan'.
What the UK needs is a new strategy. Patronising aid programmes will not cut it. The junta wants investment, security, and respect. The UK has expertise in counter-terrorism, but it does not have boots on the ground. What it has is the City of London, a financial hub that can offer capital and trade deals. But to do that, the government must accept that it will be dealing with autocrats who shoot dissenters.
The clock is ticking. If the UK does not act, Russia and China will fill the gap. And the cost of that failure will be measured not just in lost business, but in lives. The Sahel is already a powder keg. Burkina Faso has seen two coups in a year. Terrorist attacks are killing hundreds. The last thing the region needs is another proxy war.
For now, the UK is still a player, but only just. The question is: will it wake up, or will it sleepwalk into irrelevance?
