Burkina Faso’s military government has withdrawn the licences of four foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and suspended two other associations, according to decrees seen by AFP on Friday.
The decrees, dated mid-June, cited “formality breaches” as the reason for revoking the NGOs’ licences, as stated by a government minister. The suspended associations, both foreign, face a three-month ban—one reportedly over data protection violations.
The junta, which seized power in a September 2022 coup, has made “restoring national sovereignty” a central goal. In practice, this has included a crackdown on dissent, particularly among civil society groups and the media, under the pretext of fighting jihadist insurgency.
Authorities have faced growing criticism for arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, and repression of perceived opponents, including civilians accused of hostility toward the regime. Several foreign diplomats have been expelled for allegedly “subversive” activities, and multiple international media outlets have been shut down.
Burkina Faso remains gripped by a jihadist insurgency that began in neighboring Mali and Niger and has since spread across the region, causing widespread insecurity and displacement.
AFP
