France suspends child adoptions in Burkina Faso

APA – Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) – Relations between Ouagadougou and Paris have been deteriorating steadily since Capt. Ibrahim Traoré came to power in September 2022.

“All intercountry adoption procedures concerning children habitually resident in Burkina Faso by a person habitually resident in France have been suspended,” the French Adoption Agency (AFA) reported Monday.

The AFA cites a decree by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published in the Journal Officiel on Saturday.

However, the agency explains that this suspension does not apply to cases that have been matched by the Burkinabe authorities.

“Families who are currently matched can continue their adoption procedure, taking care to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs,” AFA insisted.

It estimates that seven Burkinabe children were adopted by French nationals last year, and a total of 268 since 2008.

The suspension comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between France and Burkina since Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power in September 2022.

The decision on adoptions comes at a time when visas have been suspended for students not only from Burkina Faso, but also from Mali and Niger, who were due to study in France.

Last weekend, Burkina Faso expelled the military attaché to the French embassy in Ouagadougou, accusing him of “subversive activities.”

At the same time, Ouagadougou closed its military mission in Paris.

In March, Burkina Faso had renounced a 1961 military agreement with France, a few weeks after demanding and obtaining the withdrawal of the French “Sabre” force.

SD/ac/lb/as/APA