The military government in Burkina Faso is escalating its crackdown on civil society through restrictive laws, administrative pressures, and punitive measures targeting both national and international organizations, according to human rights groups. Authorities are urged to immediately halt repression against independent voices, humanitarian groups, and human rights defenders, while upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.
On April 15, 2026, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility announced the dissolution of 118 civil society organizations, many of which were actively engaged in human rights advocacy. While authorities cited a July 2025 association law, they provided no clear justification beyond vague claims of non-compliance with the legislation.
« The mass dissolution of civil society groups is the latest move by Burkina Faso’s junta to silence dissent and evade scrutiny of its poor human rights record, » said Binta Sidibé Gascon, President of the Kisal Observatory. « This decision deepens a climate of fear that paralyzes independent civic engagement. »
The military government’s actions reflect a broader pattern of repression that intensified after the 2022 coup. Since then, authorities have systematically targeted NGOs, independent media, human rights defenders, and peaceful dissent, progressively shrinking civic space. Organizations and media outlets—both local and international—have faced suspensions, bans, or expulsions based on vague administrative pretexts or retaliation for criticism.
Humanitarian workers have also been arbitrarily detained, forcibly disappeared, or illegally conscripted into the military. This repression unfolds amid a worsening security crisis, with the country battling Islamist armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS for over a decade.
While some dissolved groups were inactive, others—including Action des Chrétiens contre la Torture (ACAT) and the Burkinabè Coalition for Women’s Rights (CBDF)—were operational and appeared compliant with the 2025 law, which grants organizations a one-year grace period to meet requirements. « If the government’s actions stem from alleged non-compliance, the dissolution is legally questionable since the deadline hasn’t yet expired, » noted Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch. « The scale of this move is one of the most severe blows to civil society since the junta took power and sends a chilling message to others. »
The July 2025 law, introduced under the pretext of regulating non-profits and combating money laundering or terrorism financing, has significantly expanded government control over civil society. It imposes burdensome obligations that hinder humanitarian and development work. Foreign organizations, for instance, must appoint Burkinabè nationals to key leadership and financial roles, exposing them to personal risks. This concern was amplified by a September 2025 amendment to the Family Code, allowing authorities to strip citizenship from individuals deemed to act against state interests, creating potential statelessness.
In early April 2026, the military government threatened « firm measures » against what it called « imperialist NGOs » following a Human Rights Watch report documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties in the conflict since 2023. By late 2025, authorities had introduced additional administrative barriers, requiring organizations to obtain a costly and time-consuming « statistical visa » before conducting research or surveys—a process described by a humanitarian worker as « severely restricting independent data collection in an already closed environment. »
Over the past year, several international NGOs have been suspended or expelled, often under unclear procedural grounds. Between June and July 2025, authorities revoked the licenses of nearly 20 foreign organizations, including Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Diakonia, Geneva Call, and the Tony Blair Institute, citing alleged failures to sign establishment conventions.
Repression has also targeted individuals within national and international civil society. Since 2022, authorities have detained over 70 humanitarian workers—mostly Burkinabè—according to international media reports. In a high-profile case, the military expelled the UN’s top representative in Burkina Faso, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, in August 2025, declaring her persona non grata following a UN report on child rights violations.
In mid-2025, security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained eight staff members of the International Group Safety Organization (INSO), a Dutch-based humanitarian group specializing in security coordination. After months of detention on espionage accusations, they were released in December 2025. Authorities accused them of sharing sensitive security information with foreign powers.
Military authorities have selectively and disproportionately used a 2023 « general mobilization » decree—a state-of-emergency law—to suppress political opposition, media, and dissent. The decree grants the president sweeping powers to combat Islamist insurgency, including conscripting individuals and limiting civil liberties. Between July and October 2025, at least six journalists and three activists forcibly conscripted were released, while others remain missing, including investigative journalist Serge Oulon, raising fears of further illegal conscriptions.
International human rights law protects freedoms of expression and association, ensuring individuals and groups can operate without interference. Restrictions must be necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory—standards the recent dissolution of civil society groups and the 2025 law fail to meet, according to the four organizations.
« A strong and independent civil society acts as a check on power and amplifies the voices of marginalized communities, » said Drissa Traoré, Secretary-General of FIDH. « Burkinabè authorities must allow civil society groups to operate freely and uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens. »
