Burkina Faso’s ruling military authorities have ordered the immediate dissolution of all political parties, wiping away the legal framework that governed their existence under a new decree adopted by the government on Thursday.
The move formally ends what had already been a prolonged suspension of party activity since the junta seized power in a 2022 coup. Under the decree, political parties and affiliated organisations are disbanded, and their assets are to be handed over to the state, according to the government-run news agency.
Officials say the decision follows an internal review that concluded political parties had strayed from the principles under which they were established. Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo said the government viewed the country’s crowded political landscape as a source of social strain rather than cohesion.
“The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to excesses, fostering division among citizens and weakening the social fabric,” he said after the Council of Ministers meeting that approved the measure.
Authorities indicated the dissolution is not meant to permanently bar political organisation. Zerbo said draft legislation setting out rules for the creation of new political parties and groups would be presented to the legislature “as soon as possible.”
Rights activists, however, see the decree as part of a broader pattern of restrictions imposed since the military takeover, arguing that civic space and opposition voices have been steadily squeezed.
Burkina Faso is one of several West and Central African states shaken in recent years by military coups and stalled transitions back to civilian rule. Since taking control, the country’s military leaders have introduced far-reaching changes, including delaying elections that were expected to restore democratic governance and dismantling the independent electoral commission, the AP reported.
