Burkina Faso’s military-led government announced on Thursday its intention to dissolve all political parties in the country, extending its sweeping control after suspending party activities since the armed forces took over power in 2022.
Captain Ibrahim Traore, who assumed leadership following a coup in September 2022 that removed a previous junta from office, has since imposed strict limits on dissent and political expression.
While political parties had already been barred from organising public rallies, they were still permitted to function internally until now.
According to a statement released by the presidency after a cabinet meeting, authorities argued that the large number of political parties had created more harm than good.
“The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to abuses, fuelled divisions among citizens and weakened the social fabric,” the statement said.
Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo disclosed that a proposed law to formally dissolve political parties would be “sent to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible,” signalling that the move could soon gain legal backing.
Zerbo further explained that once dissolved, the properties and assets belonging to political parties would be taken over by the state.
He said the decision was designed to “preserve national unity, strengthen the coherence of government action and pave the way for reforming political governance”, framing the move as part of a broader restructuring of the country’s political system.
Traore’s rise to power followed the removal of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had led Burkina Faso for only nine months before being ousted.
After fleeing into exile in Togo, Damiba was repeatedly accused by the new military authorities of orchestrating coup attempts and assassination plots, with the most recent allegation emerging earlier this month.
In a significant development, Togolese authorities extradited Damiba back to Burkina Faso this month, placing him once again within the reach of the junta that has blamed him for ongoing instability.
What you should know
Burkina Faso has remained under military rule since 2022, with Captain Ibrahim Traore consolidating power through restrictions on political activity and dissent.
The planned dissolution of political parties marks a major shift toward centralized governance, justified by the junta as a measure to promote unity and reform political structures. Critics, however, see the move as further shrinking democratic space.
The return of former leader Paul-Henri Damiba from exile also underscores ongoing tensions within the country’s political and military elite.
