Burkina Faso’s military junta intensifies crackdown on civil society and NGOs

The military administration in Burkina Faso is heightening its systematic campaign against civil society through restrictive new laws, administrative hurdles, and coercive tactics aimed at both local and international groups. Human Rights Watch, 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 have all raised alarms regarding these developments. They are calling on the military leadership to end the harassment of independent voices and humanitarian agencies while upholding basic human rights.

On April 15, 2026, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility declared the dissolution of 118 civil society organizations, many of which were active in human rights advocacy. While the authorities cited a July 2025 law regarding freedom of association, they offered no specific evidence of violations beyond vague claims of non-compliance.

“The mass termination of these organizations is the latest move by the junta in Burkina Faso to stifle criticism and avoid accountability for its poor rights record,” stated Binta Sidibé Gascon, President of the Kisal Observatory. “This strategy fosters a pervasive sense of fear that is choking independent civic engagement.”

This government crackdown follows a consistent pattern of repression that emerged after the military seized power in September 2022. Since the coup, officials have targeted non-governmental organizations, independent news outlets, and human rights activists. Dozens of local and international media houses and NGOs have been suspended or expelled under ambiguous administrative pretexts.

Furthermore, authorities have detained aid workers and engaged in the arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance, or illegal conscription of activists, journalists, and political rivals. This tightening of control is happening as Burkina Faso faces a decade-long security crisis involving armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

While some of the dissolved groups were inactive, 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 and appeared to be meeting the legal requirements of the 2025 law. Crucially, that law provided a one-year grace period for compliance that had not yet expired.

“The military’s decision to dissolve these groups based on the 2025 law is legally suspect, given that the compliance window is still open,” noted Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The scale of this action represents a major blow to civil society and serves as a warning to all remaining independent groups.”

The July 2025 legislation, framed by the authorities as a tool to combat money laundering and terrorism, has significantly increased state oversight of the non-profit sector. It imposes heavy burdens that hinder humanitarian efforts. For instance, foreign organizations are now required to appoint Burkina Faso nationals to top leadership roles, creating significant personal risks for those individuals. This concern is compounded by a September 2025 Family Code provision that allows the state to strip individuals of their nationality if they are deemed to be acting against national interests.

In early April, following a report detailing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, the military government threatened “firm measures” against what it labeled “imperialist agencies” operating as NGOs.

Administrative barriers have also increased. Organizations must now secure a “statistical visa” before conducting any research or surveys, a process described by aid workers as a costly and time-consuming method of obstructing independent data collection in an already restricted environment.

Over the past year, approximately 20 foreign organizations, including Diakonia, Geneva Call, the Tony Blair Institute, and Comunità di Sant’Egidio, have seen their licenses revoked or suspended. The repression has also hit individuals; since 2022, over 70 aid workers, mostly from Burkina Faso, have been detained. In August 2025, the government expelled Carol Flore-Smereczniak, a top UN official, after a report was released concerning violations against children.

In another high-profile case, eight employees of the International Group Safety Organization (INSO) were held on charges of espionage and treason before being released in late 2025. Additionally, a “general mobilization” decree from April 2023 has been used to selectively conscript critics into the armed forces. While some, including several journalists, were released in late 2025, others like investigative reporter Serge Oulon remain missing.

International human rights standards protect the freedom of association and expression. Any limitations must be necessary and proportionate—criteria that the recent mass dissolutions and the 2025 law fail to meet.

“A vibrant and autonomous civil society is essential for checking power and representing marginalized groups,” said Drissa Traoré, Secretary General of FIDH. “The leaders in Burkina Faso must allow these organizations to operate without interference and protect the fundamental rights of all citizens.”