GENEVA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations rights chief called 
Thursday on the Burkina Faso government to halt all repression of civic space 
and to overturn its plan to prohibit all political parties.

The junta running the west African nation said last week it planned to 
dissolve all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since 
the military rulers seized power in 2022.

"Instead of banning political parties and jailing people for expressing their 
opinions, the authorities in Burkina Faso need to open up space for civil 
society, including humanitarian actors," Volker Turk said in a statement.

They must, he said, "respect the exercise of freedom of association and 
expression, and lift bans on the activities of political parties, in 
accordance with their international obligations and commitments".

The UN rights office highlighted that the Burkinabe authorities last year 
suspended the activities of several national and international organisations, 
either without explanation or citing vague grounds, such as unauthorised data 
collection.

In July, they also enacted a restrictive new law on freedom of association 
and, in November, issued a new decree requiring NGOs and associations to open 
and maintain cash accounts exclusively with a state-run bank.

The rights office warned that the combined effect of the suspensions and 
decisions "sharply constricted civil society's activity in the country".

Although the authorities last year released several people who had been 
arbitrarily detained, the rights office said it continued to receive further 
allegations of "enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests" in the 
country.

"Among the victims are journalists, members of the judiciary, leaders and 
members of political parties and civil society organisations," it said.

It highlighted that the Burkina Faso government had committed in a roadmap 
agreement with the UN in December to end impunity and respect human rights in 
the context of security and military operations and to respect fundamental 
freedoms.

"These commitments are important and need to be translated urgently into 
concrete action," Turk said.

"The authorities need to repeal restrictive laws, allow and facilitate rapid 
and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance to all those in need across 
the country, and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained," he 
said.

"Accountability for serious human rights violations must be pursued."