Four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso since December 2023 have been freed after a year, following mediation efforts by Morocco, French officials confirmed on Thursday.
The individuals, previously described by France’s foreign intelligence agency (DGSE) as spies, were released after diplomatic negotiations involving Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI for facilitating the resolution, calling it a “humanitarian act.” Morocco’s foreign ministry echoed the sentiment, praising the collaboration between the two nations and their shared commitment to good relations.
The release comes amid a backdrop of shifting diplomatic ties. France recently reconciled with Morocco in October, resolving years of tensions over immigration and the disputed Western Sahara. Meanwhile, relations between France and Burkina Faso remain strained, with Ouagadougou expelling French troops, diplomats, and media in recent months.
Morocco, maintaining favorable ties with Burkina Faso and other Sahel nations, has positioned itself as a key ally, offering these states access to global trade through the Atlantic.