Burkina Faso cracks down on civil society with ngo dissolutions

Reacting to Burkina Faso’s decision to dissolve 118 NGOs and associations, Ousmane Diallo, Senior Researcher for the Sahel at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Office, issued a strong warning:

« This blatant violation of the right to freedom of association cannot go unnoticed. The dissolution of these organizations directly contradicts Burkina Faso’s Constitution, which explicitly upholds this fundamental right—no constitutional amendment has ever challenged this principle.

« Furthermore, this move flies in the face of Burkina Faso’s international human rights obligations, including its commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the country is a signatory.

This sweeping crackdown on civil society is part of a deliberate strategy to silence dissent through repressive measures.

Ousmane Diallo, Senior Researcher for the Sahel at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Office

« Civil society organizations are vital to advancing human rights and upholding the rule of law. Authorities must reverse this decision immediately and ensure these groups can operate without fear of retaliation.

« This wave of dissolutions is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of repression, including abusive laws, intimidation, arbitrary detentions, and prosecutions targeting human rights defenders and activists.

« The government must halt its assault on civic space, end human rights violations, and honor Burkina Faso’s international commitments to protect fundamental freedoms. »

Background

On April 15, 2026, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization announced the dissolution of 118 NGOs and associations « in accordance with applicable legal provisions, » banning their activities without further explanation.

Just months earlier, on January 29, 2026, all political parties were dissolved after a three-year suspension.

In November 2025, a presidential decree mandated that all national and international NGOs transfer their accounts from commercial banks to a newly established state-controlled bank under the Treasury, raising concerns over potential fund freezes, financial surveillance, and targeted penalties.

The country has been under military rule since two coups in January and September 2022. In May 2024, the transitional military government extended its rule by five years, delaying a return to civilian governance.