Burkina Faso: military junta escalates suppression of civil society

The military-led government in Burkina Faso has significantly tightened its grip on civil society, deploying restrictive legislation, administrative pressures, and punitive measures targeting both national and international organizations, according to a joint statement by Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)—under the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders—and the Kisal Observatory. Advocates urge the junta to immediately halt its crackdown on independent voices, humanitarian groups, and human rights defenders while upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.

Mass dissolution of civil society organizations

On April 15, 2026, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility announced the dissolution of 118 civil society organizations, many of which were actively involved in human rights advocacy. Authorities cited compliance failures under a July 2025 association law but provided no concrete evidence beyond vague claims of non-compliance.

« 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 stifles independent civic engagement. »

Systematic suppression since the 2022 coup

The crackdown reflects a broader pattern of repression that began after the military seized power in September 2022. Since then, authorities have systematically targeted NGOs, independent media outlets, human rights defenders, and peaceful dissent, steadily eroding civic space. Dozens of organizations and media platforms—both local and international—have faced suspensions, bans, or expulsions under vague administrative pretexts or in retaliation for criticism.

Civil society leaders, journalists, and political opponents have also faced arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and illegal conscription into military service. This repression unfolds amid a worsening security crisis, as Burkina Faso battles Islamist armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State over the past decade.

Legal ambiguities and forced compliance

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 association law, which grants organizations a one-year grace period to meet requirements that has not yet expired.

« If the junta’s actions are based on alleged violations of the 2025 law, they appear legally dubious since the required compliance period has not lapsed, » noted Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch. The scale of these dissolutions marks one of the most severe blows to civil society since the military takeover and sends a chilling message to others. »

Expanded government control through restrictive legislation

The July 2025 association law, introduced under the pretext of regulating non-profit sectors and combating money laundering and terrorism financing, has significantly expanded state control over civil society. It imposes cumbersome obligations that hinder humanitarian and development work. Foreign NGOs, for example, must appoint Burkinabè nationals to key leadership and financial roles, exposing them to personal risks. This concern is compounded by a September 2025 family code provision allowing authorities to strip citizenship from individuals deemed to act against state interests, creating risks of statelessness.

In early April, the military government threatened « firm measures » against what it labeled « imperialist front organizations disguised as NGOs » following a Human Rights Watch report documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity by all conflict parties since 2023.

New administrative hurdles and expulsions

By late 2025, authorities introduced additional barriers, requiring organizations to obtain a « statistical visa » before conducting research or surveys. This costly and time-consuming process, according to a humanitarian worker, « obstructs independent data collection and analysis in an already closed environment. »

Between June and July 2025, authorities suspended or revoked licenses for nearly 20 foreign NGOs, including Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Diakonia, Geneva Call, and the Tony Blair Institute, citing alleged failures to sign establishment conventions.

Targeting individuals and international bodies

The repression extends to 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 an UN report on child rights violations.

In mid-2025, security forces arrested and detained eight staff members of the International Group Safety Organization (INSO), a Dutch-based humanitarian security group, accusing them of « espionage and treason » for allegedly collecting and sharing sensitive security information with foreign powers. They were released in December 2025.

Abuse of emergency powers

Military authorities have selectively and disproportionately applied a April 2023 general mobilization decree—an emergency law—to suppress political opposition, media, and dissent. The decree grants the president sweeping powers to combat Islamist insurgencies, including conscripting individuals and seizing property while restricting civil liberties.

Between July and October 2025, at least six journalists and three activists previously forced into military service were released, while others remain missing, including investigative journalist Serge Oulon, raising fears of ongoing illegal conscription.

International law and civic freedoms

International human rights law protects freedoms of expression and association, allowing individuals and groups to operate without interference. Restrictions must be necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory—criteria the recent mass dissolutions and the 2025 law fail to meet, according to the four organizations.

« A vibrant and independent civil society serves as a check on power and amplifies the voices of marginalized communities, » said Drissa Traoré, Secretary-General of FIDH. The Burkinabè authorities must allow civil society organizations to operate freely and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens. »