UN Rights Chief Urges Burkina Faso to Drop Plan to Dissolve Political Parties

Overview

• On 29 January, the military authorities announced measures to dissolve all political parties and repeal the laws governing them after suspending party activity since September 2022.
• High Commissioner Volker Türk called on the government to end repression of civic space, lift prohibitions on political activity, and respect freedoms of association and expression.
• UN officials cited 2025 actions that curtailed civil society, including suspensions of NGOs, a restrictive freedom‑of‑association law in July, and an 11 November decree forcing NGOs to use a state‑run bank.
• The rights office said these steps have sharply limited civic activity and hindered humanitarian operations, and urged authorities to allow rapid, unimpeded access for assistance across the country.
• The UN reported continuing allegations of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests targeting journalists, judges, and civil and political figures, and pressed for unconditional releases and accountability.