In response to the recent announcement regarding the dissolution of 118 NGOs and associations in Burkina Faso, Ousmane Diallo, a senior Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa office, issued the following statement:
“We are deeply alarmed by this transparent attack on the fundamental right to freedom of association. The forced closure of these NGOs and associations directly violates the Constitution of Burkina Faso, which explicitly safeguards the freedom to associate and organize. Even with various constitutional amendments, these core principles remain legally binding.”
“Furthermore, this decision is entirely inconsistent with the international human rights obligations of Burkina Faso. It ignores the standards set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, treaties to which the country is a signatory.”
This wave of dissolutions is part of a systematic effort to silence civil society through a series of repressive measures.
Ousmane Diallo, senior Sahel researcher at the Amnesty International Regional Office for West and Central Africa
“Civil society organizations are indispensable for the promotion of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law. The government must immediately reverse this course of action and permit these entities to carry out their missions without fear of persecution.”
“These dissolutions are indicative of a broader campaign to stifle dissent. This includes the use of restrictive legislation, harassment, arbitrary detention, and the judicial targeting of activists and human rights defenders.”
“The authorities in Burkina Faso must cease their restrictions on civic space and end these human rights violations, ensuring they uphold the nation’s international commitments and legal responsibilities.”
Contextual background
On April 15, 2026, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility of Burkina Faso announced the immediate dissolution of 118 NGOs and associations. While the authorities claimed the move was in accordance with “existing legal provisions,” no specific justifications for the ban were provided.
Earlier that year, on January 29, 2026, the government dissolved all political parties, which had already been under a three-year suspension.
In November 2025, a presidential decree required all national and international NGOs to close their commercial bank accounts and migrate their funds to a state-controlled institution within the Treasury. This policy has sparked concerns regarding targeted sanctions, financial monitoring, and the potential for arbitrary asset freezes.
Burkina Faso has been governed by a military administration since two coups occurred in January and September 2022. In May 2024, the military transition period—originally scheduled to end in July 2024—was officially extended for another five years.