In response to the recent announcement that 118 non-governmental organizations and associations have been dissolved in Burkina Faso, Ousmane Diallo, a senior Sahel researcher with Amnesty International, has voiced grave concerns.
Diallo described the move as a clear violation of the fundamental right to associate. He pointed out that dissolving these entities goes against the Burkina Faso Constitution, which safeguards freedom of association and labor rights. He further noted that these principles remain intact despite various constitutional revisions.
The researcher also emphasized that this decision is fundamentally at odds with the international human rights treaties Burkina Faso has signed, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
These dissolutions are a component of a broader campaign to suppress civil society through the use of repressive tactics.
Ousmane Diallo, Senior Sahel Researcher at the Amnesty International Regional Office for West and Central Africa
Non-governmental organizations play a vital role in defending the rule of law and human rights. Diallo insisted that the government must immediately reverse this directive and permit these organizations to function without the threat of harassment.
This latest action is part of an ongoing trend of shrinking civic space, characterized by aggressive legislation, intimidation, arbitrary detentions, and the legal targeting of activists and human rights defenders.
The authorities are being urged to halt their attacks on civil liberties and to respect the international human rights obligations that the country has committed to uphold.
Context of the restrictions
On April 15, 2026, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility in Burkina Faso announced the dissolution of 118 NGOs and associations. The ministry claimed the move was in line with current legal frameworks but did not offer specific reasons for the ban.
This follows a decision on January 29, 2026, to dissolve all political parties, which had already been under suspension for three years.
Furthermore, a presidential decree in November 2025 required all international and local NGOs to move their bank accounts from commercial institutions to a state-controlled bank within the Public Treasury. This shift has created significant risks regarding financial monitoring, targeted sanctions, and the potential freezing of assets.
Burkina Faso has been governed by a military administration since two coups occurred in January and September 2022. While the military transition was initially slated to end in July 2024, it was extended for an additional five years in May 2024.
