Burkina Faso Military Regime Dissolves 118 NGOs, Deepening Crackdown on Civil Society

Burkina Faso’s military government announced on Wednesday the dissolution of 118 non‑governmental organisations and associations, citing compliance with existing legal provisions and imposing an immediate ban on their activities.

The move, described by rights advocates as an "attack on basic freedoms", follows a series of repressive actions since the 2022 coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power.

All of the dissolved entities operate within Burkina Faso, many of them dedicated to defending human rights. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility, through Minister Emile Zerbo, warned that any non‑compliance with the July 2025 law governing civil‑society groups will attract penalties under current regulations.

Amnesty International condemned the decision as a "flagrant attack on the right to freedom of association", noting that it contradicts both the Burkinabe constitution and the country’s international human‑rights obligations. Senior Sahel researcher Ousmane Diallo urged the authorities to rescind the decree immediately, emphasizing that the crackdown is part of a broader strategy that includes abusive legislation, intimidation, arbitrary detention, and prosecution of activists.

Earlier this year, the regime forced all national and international NGOs to transfer their bank accounts to a newly created state‑controlled bank, dissolved all political parties after a three‑year suspension, and publicly urged citizens to "forget democracy."

Burkina Faso continues to grapple with an insurgency linked to al‑Qaeda and ISIL affiliates; the government frequently accuses internationally funded NGOs of espionage or collusion with these armed groups, further justifying its restrictive measures.