Burkina Faso’s military-led government has withdrawn the operational licences of four foreign non-governmental organizations and suspended two other associations, according to decrees obtained by AFP on Friday.
The decrees, dated mid-June, cited "formality breaches" as the official reason for the expulsion of the four NGOs. A government minister signed off on the action, marking another step in the junta’s growing restriction of foreign presence and civil society activities.
The suspensions of the two other foreign associations are to last three months, with one accused of violating data regulations.
Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta, which came to power in a September 2022 coup, has declared the restoration of national sovereignty as a key priority. Since then, authorities have increasingly clamped down on dissent, targeting civil society groups and the media under the guise of national security and the ongoing fight against jihadist insurgency.
The country has witnessed a surge in kidnappings and extrajudicial arrests, particularly of individuals perceived as opposing the junta. In recent months, diplomats have been expelled for alleged “subversive” activities, and several foreign media outlets have been shut down.
Burkina Faso remains trapped in a deadly conflict with Islamist militants, part of a broader regional crisis that has engulfed neighbouring Mali and Niger. The violence, which began over a decade ago, has now spilled across West Africa’s borders, worsening humanitarian conditions and triggering instability.
