Burkina Faso two years after coup: severe crackdown on rights and freedoms

Nairobi, Dakar, Paris, September 30, 2024. Since Burkina Faso’s military coup on September 30, 2022, the transitional government has systematically targeted critics, human rights defenders, and opposition figures. Journalists, activists, and political opponents face daily threats: arrests, abductions, forced disappearances, intimidation of relatives, or conscription into military service. This climate of fear is fueled by pro-regime activists spreading hate speech and calls for violence on social media.

The FIDH demands an immediate end to these abuses and the unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained individuals. It also calls on Burkina Faso’s authorities to honor their national, regional, and international human rights obligations.

«Silencing civil society, repressing human rights defenders, journalists, and political opponents is unacceptable—especially during a transition meant to rebuild the state and improve governance», declared Drissa Traoré, FIDH Secretary General. «Civil society must be safeguarded. Protecting freedom of expression, opinion, assembly, and the press is not negotiable».

While the regime had pledged to prioritize ending the country’s armed conflict, FIDH reports a surge in violence and civilian casualties. On August 24, 2024, an attack by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) targeted civilians, security forces, and civilian defense volunteers (VDP), resulting in numerous deaths. The FIDH and the Sahel Peoples’ Coalition condemned these atrocities without delay.

Forced conscription of critics and defenders

Since late November 2023, authorities have systematically conscripted human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition figures into military service as punishment for their criticism or human rights advocacy. Under the controversial «Decree on General Mobilization and Warning» (adopted April 2023), at least ten individuals—including prominent figures like human rights advocate Dr. Daouda Diallo and politician Ablassé Ouédraogo—have been forcibly sent to the front lines.

Judges and prosecutors are also targeted, violating the separation of powers and judicial independence. In August 2024, at least five magistrates—including prosecutors from courts in Ouagadougou, Boromo, Bobo-Dioulasso, Gaoua, and Ziniaré—were forcibly conscripted after handling cases involving regime allies. Their conscription period runs from August 14 to November 13, 2024.

«Deploying judges and law enforcement officials to the front lines as retaliation for unfavorable rulings is a blatant violation of Burkina Faso’s Constitution and its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights», warned Alice Mogwe, FIDH President. «This pattern of repression—condemned by the UN, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and human rights organizations—must stop immediately».

Crackdown on press freedom

Burkina Faso’s authorities have progressively dismantled press freedom, imposing strict controls on local media and banning international outlets. Journalists are coerced into adopting a «patriotic» editorial line—meaning favorable to the regime—and face constant harassment. Self-censorship has become the norm. Atiana Serge Oulon, an investigative journalist and editor of the influential newspaper L’Événement, was abducted from his home by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) on June 24, 2024. His whereabouts remain unknown; his newspaper had been suspended just days earlier. Similarly, journalists Kalifara Séré and Adama Bayala, contributors to the private TV channel BF1, were abducted after the suspension of their program « 7 Infos ». The ACHPR has expressed «grave concern» over these incidents, highlighting the severe risks faced by journalists in Burkina Faso.

Relatives of exiled opponents targeted

In recent weeks, families of former officials have faced harassment, violence, and abductions. Between September 11 and 16, 2024, at least two relatives of Djibril Bassolé, former Foreign Minister under Blaise Compaoré, were violently abducted in Ouagadougou—a direct consequence of incitement to violence by pro-regime activists.

«We urge the African Union and the United Nations to coordinate efforts to pressure Burkina Faso’s authorities to end this climate of violence, release all abducted individuals, and guarantee their safety», appealed Professor Mabassa Fall, FIDH Representative to the African Union.