The Committee For Justice (CFJ) strongly condemns the reported dissolution of over 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society groups by the authorities in Burkina Faso. This sweeping action represents a grave assault on civic space and a direct violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of association, expression, and participation in public life.
Civil society organisations play an indispensable role in promoting accountability, advancing human rights, supporting vulnerable communities, and strengthening democratic governance. The mass dissolution of these organisations, reportedly on administrative or security grounds, raises serious concerns about the increasing repression of independent voices and the shrinking of civic space in the country.
Burkina Faso is bound by several regional and international human rights instruments which guarantee and protect the rights now under threat. These include:
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Article 10, which guarantees the right to freedom of association, and Article 9, which protects freedom of expression. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has consistently affirmed that any restrictions on these rights must be necessary, proportionate, and provided by law.
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), specifically Articles 21 and 22, which guarantee the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has clarified that blanket bans or arbitrary dissolution of organisations violate these protections.
- The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which obliges State Parties to promote participation, transparency, and the role of civil society in governance processes.
- The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which affirms the right of individuals and groups to form, join, and operate organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Furthermore, the actions of the Burkinabè authorities appear inconsistent with the standards developed by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the soft law guidelines of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights concerning the protection of civic space and human rights defenders.
CFJ emphasizes that national security concerns must not be used as a pretext to silence dissent or dismantle legitimate civil society activity. Any regulatory measures affecting NGOs must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality under international human rights law.
We call on the authorities of Burkina Faso to:
- Immediately reverse the dissolution of the affected organisations and reinstate their legal status;
- Ensure that any restrictions on civil society are in strict compliance with international human rights obligations;
- Guarantee the protection of human rights defenders and civil society actors from harassment, intimidation, or reprisals;
- Engage constructively with regional and international human rights mechanisms, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
We further call on:
- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and the international community to urgently address this situation and apply pressure for the protection of civic space in Burkina Faso;
- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to investigate and publicly respond to these developments.
The erosion of civic space in Burkina Faso risks undermining not only human rights but also long term peace, stability, and inclusive governance in the country.
