UN Tells Burkina Faso Junta to Lift Ban on Political Parties
Last update: February 5, 2026
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Rights chief calls for end to repression and protection of civil liberties.
The United Nations human rights chief has urged Burkina Faso’s government to stop repressing civic space and to reverse its plan to ban all political parties.
The military junta, which seized power in 2022, announced last week that it intends to dissolve all political parties, whose activities have already been suspended.
Volker Turk said the authorities should "open up space for civil society, including humanitarian actors" and respect freedom of association and expression in line with international obligations.
The UN highlighted that last year the Burkinabe authorities suspended several national and international organisations, introduced restrictive laws on freedom of association, and required NGOs to maintain accounts exclusively with a state-run bank, sharply limiting civil society activity.
Despite the release of some arbitrarily detained individuals, the rights office continues to receive reports of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests affecting journalists, judges, political leaders, and civil society members.
Turk stressed that Burkina Faso must implement commitments made in a December UN roadmap to uphold human rights, facilitate humanitarian access, repeal restrictive laws, release detainees, and ensure accountability for serious violations.
