Burkina Faso’s move to dissolve 118 NGOs sparks global outcry
Ousmane Diallo, Senior Researcher on the Sahel at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Office, has voiced strong concerns over Burkina Faso’s decision to dissolve 118 NGOs and associations, labeling it a blatant violation of fundamental rights.
The action directly contradicts Burkina Faso’s Constitution, which explicitly protects the right to freedom of association and trade union rights. Despite constitutional amendments in recent years, this core principle remains intact, making the dissolution even more concerning.
Furthermore, the move clashes with Burkina Faso’s international human rights obligations, including commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which the country has ratified.
This systematic crackdown on civil society is not an isolated incident but part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent through repressive measures.
Ousmane Diallo, Senior Researcher on the Sahel at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Office
NGOs and associations are vital pillars in upholding human rights and the rule of law. Authorities must urgently reverse this decision and ensure these organizations can operate without fear of retaliation or arbitrary restrictions.
This wave of repression extends beyond NGO dissolutions. Reports indicate a troubling pattern of abusive legislation, intimidation tactics, arbitrary detentions, and targeted prosecutions against human rights defenders and activists. Such measures severely undermine civic space and signal a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms.
Burkina Faso’s government must halt these violations, restore civic freedoms, and align its policies with international human rights standards.
Key developments leading to the crisis
The recent dissolutions follow a series of restrictive actions that have progressively shrunk civic space in Burkina Faso:
- January 2026: All political parties were dissolved after a three-year suspension, further tightening control over public discourse.
- November 2025: A presidential decree mandated that all national and international NGOs close their accounts with commercial banks and transfer their funds to a newly established state-controlled bank under the Treasury. This move raises serious concerns over potential arbitrary fund freezes, financial surveillance, and retaliatory sanctions.
- Political instability: Burkina Faso has been under military rule since two coups in January and September 2022. In May 2024, the transitional military government extended its mandate by five years, delaying a return to civilian rule.
These actions collectively paint a worrying picture of a government increasingly prioritizing control over democratic principles and human rights.