Le Monde has uncovered new details surrounding the high-stakes operation that led to the release of four French nationals held captive in Burkina Faso for over a year.
The hostages—officials from the French Directorate General for External Security (DGSE), who had been detained on charges of espionage—were freed thanks to a pivotal intervention by Morocco.
The four men had traveled to Ouagadougou on November 29, 2023, for a short technical mission related to French intelligence operations.
However, their mission went awry when they were arrested by Burkinabé authorities, accused of spying under the regime of President Ibrahim Traoré.
Despite extensive, secretive negotiations between France and Burkina Faso, the situation remained deadlocked for months, leaving the hostages stranded in a high-pressure diplomatic standoff.
According to Le Monde’s investigation, Morocco’s involvement proved decisive. On the night of December 18, 2024, a private Moroccan jet, a Bombardier Challenger 604, landed in Ouagadougou.
The aircraft, belonging to the Moroccan company Air Ocean Maroc, was instrumental in executing the final phase of the operation.
Three hours after landing, four French DGSE agents boarded the plane, having spent more than a year in captivity.
At 11:52 PM, the plane took off for Casablanca, marking the conclusion of one of the most delicate intelligence crises France had faced in recent years.
The French government had attempted lengthy negotiations with Burkina Faso, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. It was only after Morocco’s direct mediation that the standoff came to an end, allowing the hostages to return home. The operation’s success was met with immense relief within France’s intelligence community.
The following day, December 19, 2024, the French Élysée Palace issued a statement acknowledging the critical role Morocco played in securing the release. President Emmanuel Macron personally thanked King Mohammed VI for his intervention, praising the success of the Moroccan-led mediation.
This breakthrough came after a period of improved Franco-Moroccan relations, notably marked by France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in July 2024.
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