France fumes over expulsion of two French journalists by Burkina Faso

France’s foreign ministry Monday slammed Burkina Faso’s Saturday decision to expel two French journalists from the West African country.

Authorities of the African country expelled Sophie Douce and Agnès Faivre respectively correspondents of Le Monde and Liberation after they were questioned by the country’s police directorate.

Liberation reported that the army committed abuses against adolescents in the North where the armed forces are fighting terrorists.

The government rubbished the accusation arguing that some terrorists sometimes disguise as soldiers.

“France deeply regrets the expulsion of the correspondents of Le Monde and Liberation from Burkina Faso, which comes a few days after the decision to suspend the broadcasting of France 24 programs,” the ministry said in a statement. “France reaffirms its constant and determined commitment to press freedom and the protection of journalists throughout the world,” the statement added.

The West African country late last month suspended French state-run channel France24 after the media aired an interview with the leader al Qaeda in Maghreb, and four months ago, it suspended Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Since the seizure of power by Captain Ibrahim Traoré on September 30, 2022, in a second coup in eight months in Burkina Faso, relations with Paris have deteriorated. Ouagadougou demanded and obtained the departure of the French ambassador and the 400 French special forces soldiers based in the country. In early March, Burkina also denounced a military assistance agreement signed in 1961 with France.