The military leadership in Burkina Faso is intensifying its systemic crackdown on independent voices through restrictive new laws, administrative hurdles, and punitive actions against both domestic and global organizations. Human Rights Watch, along with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) via the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and the KISAL Observatory, are calling for an immediate end to this hostility. They urge the authorities to respect fundamental freedoms and stop targeting humanitarian and rights-oriented groups.
On April 15, 2026, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility declared the dissolution of 118 civil society organizations, many of which focused on human rights advocacy. While officials cited a July 2025 law regarding the freedom of association, they offered no specific evidence of violations beyond vague claims of non-compliance.
A climate of fear and restricted civic space
“This mass dissolution represents the latest effort by the Burkina Faso junta to stifle opposition and avoid accountability for its human rights record,” stated Binta Sidibé Gascon, President of the Kisal Observatory. She noted that such actions create a pervasive atmosphere of fear that effectively halts independent civic engagement.
This trend of repression has expanded significantly since the military seized control in September 2022. Since the coup, the government has focused its efforts on dismantling non-governmental organizations, independent media outlets, and political dissenters. Numerous international and local media platforms have been banned or suspended under questionable administrative pretenses.
In addition to organizational bans, the authorities have targeted individuals. Humanitarian staff have been detained, while activists, journalists, and political rivals have faced arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and illegal military conscription. This tightening of control occurs as Burkina Faso continues to struggle with a decade-long security crisis involving armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Legal concerns and administrative barriers
While some of the dissolved groups were no longer active, others, such as the Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) and the Burkinabè Coalition for Women’s Rights (CBDF), were fully operational. These groups appeared to meet the legal criteria set by the 2025 law, which technically allows organizations a full year to align with new regulations—a deadline that has not yet passed.
“The military government’s decision appears legally suspect given that the compliance window is still open,” explained Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. She described the move as a devastating blow to civil society intended to intimidate remaining independent groups.
The July 2025 legislation, framed by the state as a tool to fight terrorism financing and money laundering, has instead granted the government unprecedented oversight. It requires foreign organizations to appoint Burkina Faso nationals to senior leadership roles, placing those individuals at high personal risk. Furthermore, a September 2025 update to the Family Code allows the state to revoke the nationality of anyone deemed to be acting against national interests, raising the threat of statelessness for critics.
Retaliation against international observers
In early April, the government threatened “firm measures” against what it labeled “imperialist agencies” following a report detailing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various factions in the country. New administrative requirements, such as a mandatory and expensive “statistical visa” for conducting research, have further obstructed independent data collection.
Between June and July 2025, approximately 20 foreign organizations, including the Tony Blair Institute and Geneva Call, had their licenses revoked or suspended. The crackdown has also hit high-ranking international officials; in August 2025, the UN’s top representative, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, was expelled after a report was released regarding violations against children.
The Dutch-based International Group Safety Organization (INSO) also saw eight of its staff members detained on charges of espionage and treason before their release in late 2025. Meanwhile, a “general mobilization” decree from April 2023 has been used to forcibly draft journalists and activists into the military. While some, like investigative journalist Serge Oulon, remain missing, others have been released after months of illegal service.
International human rights standards mandate that any restrictions on the freedom of association must be necessary and proportionate. According to Drissa Traoré, Secretary General of FIDH, “A vibrant and independent civil society is essential for preventing power abuses. The authorities in Burkina Faso must allow these groups to operate without interference and uphold the rights of all citizens.”
