The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has strongly urged the government of Burkina Faso to reverse its recent decision to dissolve political parties and ease restrictions on civil society space.
In a press statement, Türk emphasized that suppressing political parties and detaining individuals for expressing dissent contradicts human rights principles. He called on authorities to:
- Restore the right to association and free speech
- Lift bans on political party activities
- Ensure compliance with international human rights obligations
Government actions spark concern over civic freedoms
On January 29, 2026, the Burkinabè government announced plans to dissolve political parties and revoke their legal frameworks. Since September 2022, all political party activities have been suspended, raising serious questions about democratic participation.
Over the past year, authorities have also taken further steps to tighten control over civil society:
- Suspension of multiple national and international organizations under vague justifications
- Enactment of a restrictive association law in July 2025
- A November 2025 decree mandating NGOs to open and manage bank accounts exclusively with a state-owned bank
These measures have severely limited civic engagement, hindered humanitarian operations, and restricted access to vulnerable populations—all in violation of international human rights standards.
ongoing human rights violations demand accountability
While the government released several arbitrarily detained individuals last year, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) continues to receive reports of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests in Burkina Faso. Victims include journalists, judges, political leaders, and civil society activists.
The OHCHR and Burkina Faso’s government signed a roadmap in December 2025, pledging to end impunity, protect human rights during security operations, support victims, and strengthen national protection mechanisms. However, Volker Türk stressed that these commitments must be followed by urgent, tangible actions:
- Repeal restrictive laws
- Ensure unhindered humanitarian access
- Unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained individuals
- Hold perpetrators of rights violations accountable
“A thriving civic space, pluralistic political participation, and a strengthened rule of law are essential for sustainable peace, security, and social cohesion in Burkina Faso,” Türk concluded.
