Burkina Faso Junta Declares Ban on All Political Parties

Fri Jan 30 2026 19:28:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move to consolidate power, the Burkina Faso junta has officially banned all political parties, a decision that raises concerns over democratic freedoms in the country.

The Burkina Faso military government has issued a ban on all political parties, marking a continued effort to solidify its control following the 2022 coup. Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, facing criticism for suppressing dissent, defends the decision as necessary to 'rebuild the state' and combat divisiveness. All assets of dissolved parties will be transferred to the state, and a new law will be presented to the Transitional Legislative Assembly soon. The move follows previous restrictions that barred parties from conducting public gatherings, intensifying fears about the stability of democracy in the West African nation.

Burkina Faso Junta Declares Ban on All Political Parties

Burkina Faso's junta has announced a ban on all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since the military seized power in 2022. Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré has faced considerable criticism for suppressing dissent, and this move is seen as another step to tighten control over the nation.

Interior Minister Emile Zerbo explained that the ban is part of an effort to rebuild the state following what he described as numerous abuses within the multiparty system. He stated that the political system had been promoting division among citizens and weakening the social fabric. Previously, political parties had been restricted from holding public gatherings; the new decree extends this by prohibiting all party operations.

Assets from the dissolved parties will be transferred to the state, and Zerbo mentioned that a draft law will be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly promptly. Prior to the coup, Burkina Faso had over 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament following the 2020 general elections.

This oppressive climate follows Traoré's 2022 coup, which ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had only been in power for nine months. Despite Traoré's authoritarian tendencies, he has gained popular support for his pan-African vision and criticism of Western influence, highlighting a complex relationship with democracy in the region. The dictatorship's recent actions come amid a string of coups in West Africa, stirring concerns regarding the overall stability of the region.