Ahmad 
Four French citizens with diplomatic passports were arrested by authorities in Burkina Faso on suspicion of espionage.
According to the agency’s sources, the authorities, in Burkina Faso, are investigating the activity of four French men, who they show are in the French Foreign Intelligence Service, where they are held in a cell on charges of espionage and assisted by the consulate.
The French side pointed out that its four citizens arrived in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, at the invitation of the French diplomatic mission, to perform technical work at the end of November, and were arrested by the police on December 1.
For his part, an unnamed source in French diplomat circles said that his country “rejects accusations that these technical experts were sent to Burkina Faso for reasons unrelated to computer maintenance.”
Relations between France and Burkina Faso have deteriorated significantly since September 2022, following the arrival of a military group led by Brahim Traoré to power in the country after a coup, with the new authorities announcing the dissolution of the government, the suspension of the constitution, and any political activity.