Four French officials, detained in Burkina Faso since December 1, 2023, on charges of espionage, have been released. The French Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) confirmed their release on Thursday, December 19. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his crucial role in mediating their release, as reported by France24. «The head of state spoke yesterday, Wednesday, December 18, with the King of Morocco to warmly thank him for the success of this mediation», stated the Elysée. The four men, arrested in Ouagadougou a year ago, were initially described by Burkinabe authorities as DGSE agents. However, a French diplomatic source clarified that they were on an official mission, equipped with diplomatic passports and visas. The source strongly refuted the espionage allegations, stating that the officials were engaged in IT maintenance projects. This successful Moroccan mediation highlights a thaw in relations between Paris and Rabat following three years of diplomatic tensions. President Macron's state visit to Morocco in late October 2024 was a pivotal moment in restoring bilateral ties. The rapprochement began on July 30, when France endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, describing it as the «only serious and credible basis» for resolving the long-standing conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is backed by Algeria.
