Burkina Faso’s military government shut down four foreign non-governmental organisations’ licences on 4 July 2025.
Due to alleged data breaches, two foreign associations received three-month suspensions.
Authorities only made the decrees public in early July 2025, despite issuing them in mid-June, according to AFP.
Rather than enhancing civic regulation in the public eye, the enforcement appears to reflect the junta’s broader efforts to suppress opposition and consolidate power over civil society.
JUNTA CITES SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY
Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s direction, the junta claims that the actions will restore national sovereignty.
Authorities argue that foreign organisations undermine domestic efforts to combat terrorist insurgencies.
In addition, armed groups linked to Niger and Mali continue to inflict violence on Burkina Faso.
The government has removed diplomats accused of participating in subversive activities in recent months.
Despite increased military operations and international assistance initiatives, security remains precarious.
BURKINA FASO RISING REPRESSION
Burkina Faso has shut down several foreign media outlets due to their negative coverage.
Furthermore, the government banned Voice of America and BBC/Africa from broadcasting after Human Rights Watch (HRW) published its report.
The HRW published its report on the February 2024 massacres in April 2024, calling on the transitional government of Burkina Faso to look into the army’s alleged execution of at least 223 civilians in Nondin and Soro, including 56 children.
The obstruction of international media outlets that disseminated the study severely limited access to HRW’s findings on the atrocities in Burkina Faso.
The military government of Burkina Faso, headed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has not taken any concrete steps to look into or address the killings, media censorship, or activist arrests as of July 2025.
The junta tightened its controls over international organisations and civil society while intensifying its suppression of the opposition.
UNCERTAINTY IN LEGAL RESPONSE
Advocacy groups criticised the NGOs’ closure as politically motivated and lacking legal transparency.
NGOs are regularly suspended without formal legal proceedings or public hearings.
International observers warn of the erosion of the rule of law and democratic values.
Rising displacement rates and significant funding cuts have a significant impact on international humanitarian efforts.
SHOULD THE BANS ON NGOs IN BURKINA FASO BE LEGALLY CHALLENGED?
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