The detention of influential Sunni preacher Imam Mohamed Ishaq Kindo in Burkina Faso just before the Tabaski festival has intensified concerns about the junta’s tightening grip on dissent. Questions swirl around the circumstances of his arrest, with no official explanations provided. Yet the Federation of Islamic Associations (Faib) has already urged calm and respect for state institutions.

Witnesses describe how plainclothes police and masked soldiers swooped in on Tuesday, May 26 at around 2 p.m., sparking clashes as worshippers attempted to intervene. Several people were injured in the melee.

The unrest comes amid months of 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 tendencies. The measures have drawn strong opposition, particularly from Muslim associations demanding its withdrawal.

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

Within hours of his arrest, a pro-Kindo demonstration in Ouagadougou was dispersed with tear gas.

This incident is not isolated. In late March, Imam Mahmoud Barro vanished after publicly criticizing the same bill.

Another indicator of rising tensions: the temporary suspension of the General Union of Burkinabè Students (Ugeb) on accusations of “terrorist propaganda” for three months—renewable. The union had published a statement condemning the authorities’ “clear inability” to address insecurity and broken promises.

Human rights watchdog calls for sanctions to be lifted

Human Rights Watch points out that the Ugeb, founded in 1960, has long been a “crucial voice for improving student living conditions and advocating for transparency and social justice.”

A prosecutor in Ouagadougou confirmed an investigation into the “author or authors” behind the Ugeb’s statement. A Burkinabè exile quoted by HRW warned that this case illustrates how the judiciary is increasingly “subordinated to the junta’s political and security agenda.”

The rights group is demanding the Ugeb sanctions be scrapped and an end to the suppression of independent voices and fundamental freedoms. HRW argues that “silencing students will not resolve Burkina Faso’s worsening security and governance crisis—especially as Islamist insurgent attacks escalate.”

A month ago, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) had called on Burkinabè authorities to “uphold everyone’s fundamental rights and freedoms.” That appeal appears to have gone unheeded. Instead, fear is taking root across society.

Journalists now struggle to find sources willing to speak openly, as the risks grow. Yet dissent persists—quietly on social media and in private conversations among Burkinabè citizens.