France said on Saturday it was considering reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso's military government formally severed diplomatic relations with its former colonial ruler, marking a further deterioration in ties that have steadily worsened over recent years.
The decision, which took effect on Friday, follows a prolonged period of disputes over security cooperation, sovereignty and allegations of foreign interference.
French authorities also urged their nationals in Burkina Faso to exercise heightened vigilance while monitoring the safety of government personnel and citizens in the country.
Burkina Faso's military government announced it had ended diplomatic relations with France with immediate effect, accusing Paris of "blatant neo-colonial ambitions and active support for subversive networks and terrorists" without providing evidence.
Communications Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo said the conditions required for relations based on mutual respect, trust and non-interference were no longer present.
France rejected the accusations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux describing the move as a "hostile and unfounded decision" and confirming that reciprocal measures were under review.
It remains unclear what practical consequences the diplomatic rupture will have or how it will affect the French embassy in Ouagadougou.
Relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated since Burkina Faso's 2022 military coup, which ended France's role as the country's principal security partner.
The junta subsequently ordered French forces to leave, requested the recall of France's ambassador, declared the United Nations' resident and humanitarian coordinator persona non grata in 2023, and expelled three French diplomats in 2024 over alleged subversive activities.
Burkina Faso continues to face a prolonged Islamist insurgency that has spread across the Sahel, killing thousands and displacing millions over the past decade.
Analysts say the violence has intensified under military rule despite promises to improve security, while allegations of abuses by government forces have also drawn international scrutiny.