The Burkinabè authorities have suspended two prominent Muslim associations for three months, citing public order violations and deviations from their stated missions. This move follows the detention of influential Sunni imam Mohamad Ishaq Kindo, whose arrest has intensified tensions in the country.

Imam Kindo’s detention sparks widespread reactions

The government announced the suspension of the Coordination of Young Muslims of Burkina Faso for alleged public disturbances and the association As Salam for conducting activities deemed incompatible with its official objectives. These decisions come just two weeks after the controversial arrest of Imam Kindo, who had publicly criticized a proposed law tightening religious freedoms in Burkina Faso—a nation where Muslims constitute around 60% of the population.

Since his arrest on May 26, the whereabouts of the imam remain undisclosed. His supporters, who organized demonstrations demanding his release, have also faced arrests, further escalating concerns about civic freedoms in the country.

Junta enforces stricter controls under security pretext

Since seizing power in September 2022 following a coup, the military leadership under Captain Ibrahim Traoré has increasingly restricted dissenting voices. Authorities justify these measures as necessary to maintain stability amid a decade-long jihadist insurgency that has destabilized the Sahel region.

Between April and May alone, over 900 associations—including 811 suspensions and 118 dissolutions—have been targeted for alleged administrative non-compliance. This crackdown has drawn criticism from observers warning of a decline in civil liberties during Burkina Faso’s ongoing security crisis.