Tensions escalated in Burkina Faso this week following the detention of influential Sunni preacher Imam Mohamed Ishaq Kindo on the eve of Eid al-Adha. The circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear, with no official explanation provided. The Federation of Islamic Associations (Faib) has urged calm and respect for state institutions in response.

Witness accounts describe masked police and military officers detaining the imam around 2 PM on Tuesday, May 26. Attempts by worshippers to intervene sparked clashes, leaving several injured. The arrest comes amid heated debate over a proposed religious freedoms bill that seeks to reinforce state secularism, regulate places of worship in public services, and curb certain extremist trends—measures strongly contested by Muslim associations demanding its withdrawal.

A widely circulated audio message from Imam Kindo, released earlier this week, questioned whether authorities were “fully considering the consequences of their actions before proceeding.”

Protests erupted in Ouagadougou shortly after his detention, quickly dispersed with tear gas. This incident is not isolated. In late March, Imam Mahmoud Barro vanished after criticizing the same bill.

Another sign of growing repression emerged with the suspension of the General Union of Burkinabe Students (Ugeb) for three months—renewable—on accusations of “terrorist advocacy.” The organization had published a statement denouncing the government’s “clear failure” to address insecurity and unfulfilled promises.

Human rights groups condemn crackdown on dissent

Human Rights Watch described the Ugeb—founded in 1960—as a vital voice for student welfare and broader struggles for transparency and social justice. A prosecutor in Ouagadougou announced an investigation into the union’s statement, while a Burkinabe exile quoted by HRW argued that judicial authorities are increasingly beholden to the junta’s political and security agenda.

The NGO called for the sanctions against Ugeb to be lifted and urged an end to the suppression of independent voices and fundamental freedoms. In its view, silencing students will not resolve Burkina Faso’s deepening security and governance crises, including the rise of Islamist insurgencies. Just a month ago, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) called on Burkinabe authorities to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms—a call that, so far, appears unheeded. Instead, fear is taking root in society.

Journalists now face growing difficulty in securing responses, as people grow increasingly reluctant to speak openly. Yet dissent persists, quietly expressed in private conversations and on social media platforms.