Burkina Faso’s authorities have declared two officials from the European Union Delegation in Ouagadougou persona non grata and have given them three days to leave the country.
This is according to a report by the Burkina Information Agency (AIB) which said the expulsion order targets the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation who also serves as Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, as well as a programme officer attached to the delegation.
According to AIB, the two officials have been granted a three-day deadline to depart Burkina Faso. The authorities have not yet provided any official explanation regarding the reasons behind the decision.
The move comes amid strained diplomatic relations between Ouagadougou and Brussels.
On June 22, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, summoned the Head of the EU Delegation to Burkina Faso, Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi.
At the time, the Burkinabè government was protesting against a resolution adopted by the European Parliament, which it described as “hostile interference” in the country’s internal affairs.”
The expulsion of the two officials marks a new low in the deteriorating relations between Burkina Faso and the European Union.
HO/te/Sf/lb/as/APA