Burkina Faso’s military junta, led by President Ibrahim Traoré, who took power in 2022 following a military coup, dissolved all political opposition in the West African nation on Thursday.
A decree, approved by the government ordering the dissolution of political parties in the 65-year-old republic, comes in the way that numerous other executive measures have been implemented, effectively curtailing the civil liberties of opposition groups and activist organizations.
Although activities by political opposition parties in Burkina Faso have been suspended or restricted since 2022, Thursday’s new measure, confirmed by the junta, orders the transfer of all assets belonging to opposition political parties to the state.
Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo stated after a council of ministers meeting that “The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to excesses, fostering division among citizens and weakening the social fabric.”
In January 2022, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a military officer, ousted elected President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, citing ineffectiveness in dealing with the threat of Islamic militancy.
Later that year, Damiba was then ousted by current President Ibrahim Traoré in a coup d'état, serving only nine months as interim president before being accused by Traoré of scuttling the regime. Damiba was later arrested by Traoré after being extradited from Togo on charges of embezzlement and illicit enrichment, and conspiring to incite a coup against his former colleague, Traoré.
The decree by the Traoré government on Thursday will likely phase out at least 100 political opposition parties in Burkina Faso, 15 of which currently hold representation in the nation’s parliament.
