Burkina Faso: arbitrary detention and condemnation of human rights lawyer Ini Benjamine Esther Doli

Background of the case

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has received fresh information regarding the continued arbitrary detention and recent condemnation of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli, a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate in Burkina Faso.

Legal proceedings and charges

On November 10, 2025, the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Ouagadougou conducted a closed hearing where Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was found guilty of two serious offenses: contempt of the Head of State (Article 352-2 of the Penal Code) and attempting to demoralize the armed forces (Article 312-11 of the Penal Code). These charges stemmed from critical remarks she posted on her Facebook account. The court sentenced her to one year in prison and imposed a fine of 1,000,000 F.CFA (approximately €1,525). Although she has appealed the decision, she remains incarcerated in the women’s section of the Ouagadougou civil prison.

Notably, she was acquitted of the charge of treason (Article 311-2 of the Penal Code), as the prosecutor deemed the evidence insufficient to establish the offense. Despite this partial relief, her continued detention raises serious concerns about due process and the right to freedom of expression.

Circumstances of her arrest

Ini Benjamine Esther Doli was forcibly taken from her home in Ouagadougou during the night of August 31 to September 1, 2025, at around 1:30 AM. The assailants, who identified themselves as members of the national gendarmerie, abducted her shortly after her return from a trip abroad. Her last Facebook post before the abduction included a scathing critique of the current state of governance and justice in Burkina Faso, drawing parallels to revolutionary ideals.

Professional background and advocacy

Ini Benjamine Esther Doli is a seasoned legal professional with a distinguished career. She previously served as the Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Bobo-Dioulasso High Court and as a Government Commissioner at the Ouagadougou Administrative Tribunal, a role she held from May 2019. She has been a registered member of the Burkina Faso Bar Association since July 2024. Her work has consistently focused on exposing human rights violations, advocating for judicial independence, and defending victims of state-sponsored violence and repression.

Through her public statements and social media activity, she has highlighted systemic failures in Burkina Faso’s judicial system, including the erosion of judicial autonomy, unwarranted delays in legal proceedings, and the use of state resources to intimidate citizens. Her posts often condemned the militarization of public institutions and the suppression of dissent, calling attention to the climate of fear gripping the nation.

Wider context of repression

Ini Benjamine Esther Doli’s case is not an isolated incident. The military-led authorities in Burkina Faso have intensified their crackdown on civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists. Recent months have seen a disturbing pattern of abductions, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions targeting those who dare to criticize the government.

Key cases include:

• Amadou Sawadogo, a member of the Balai Citoyen movement, who was missing from March 21, 2025, but was released on May 26, 2025.
• Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, Executive Secretary of the same movement, who was abducted on March 30, 2025, and remains missing.
• Three journalists — Boukary Ouoba, Luc Pagbeguem, and Guezouma Sanogo — who were abducted on March 24, 2025. While Ouoba and Pagbeguem were released on July 17, 2025, and Sanogo on July 21, 2025, their ordeal underscores the dangers faced by media professionals.
• Atiana Serge Oulon, an investigative journalist and editor of L’Événement, who was abducted on June 24, 2024, and remains missing.
• Guy Hervé Kam, another human rights lawyer and co-founder of the Balai Citoyen movement, who was arrested in January 2024 at Ouagadougou International Airport and remains in arbitrary detention on charges of conspiracy and association with criminals.

Call to action

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and condemnation of Ini Benjamine Esther Doli. We urge the military authorities in Burkina Faso to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release her and all other human rights defenders currently detained without due process.
• Ensure her physical and psychological safety while in detention, and guarantee access to legal counsel, family visits, and necessary medical care.
• Conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into her abduction and enforced disappearance, as well as those of other victims.
• Uphold fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to freedom of expression and association, in accordance with international and regional human rights standards, including Articles 19 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

How you can help:

Take action by sending urgent appeals to the following authorities in Burkina Faso:

• Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration II (MPSR II)
  X: @CapitaineIb22
• Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso
  X: @J_E_Ouedraogo
• Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals
  Email: [email protected]
• Jean Marie Karamoko Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabè Abroad
  Email: [email protected]; X: @JeanMarieTraore
• National Human Rights Commission of Burkina Faso
  Email: [email protected]; X: @BurkinaCndhX
• Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
• Oumarou Ganou, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations in New York
  Email: [email protected]
• Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

We also encourage you to contact the Burkina Faso diplomatic missions in your respective countries. Please inform the Observatory of any actions you take by referencing the code for this urgent appeal.

The Observatory, a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), is dedicated to protecting human rights defenders facing violations and providing them with concrete support. Both organizations are active members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union’s mechanism for human rights defenders implemented by international civil society.

Contact the Observatory:
Email: [email protected]
FIDH Emergency Line: +33 1 43 55 25 18
OMCT Emergency Line: +41 22 809 49 39