The military-led government of Burkina Faso has announced the dissolution of all political parties and the repeal of the laws governing their activities, according to a decree adopted by the cabinet on Thursday.
The decision follows a series of measures taken since the army seized power in a 2022 coup, moves that human rights groups say have significantly curtailed political freedoms and restricted opposition activity.
Since the military takeover, political party activities had already been suspended. The new decree goes further by ordering that all assets belonging to the dissolved parties be transferred to state ownership, according to a statement released by the national communications authority.
Interior Minister Emile Zerbo said the decision was made after authorities concluded that political parties had failed to uphold the principles and objectives upon which they were founded.
“The government observed that the unchecked proliferation of political parties led to irresponsible behavior, fueled divisions among citizens, and undermined national unity,” Zerbo said.
He added that new legislation defining the framework for the creation and operation of political parties in the future would be submitted to the legislative body as soon as possible.
Burkina Faso is among several countries in West and Central Africa that have experienced military coups in recent years, a trend often accompanied by prolonged delays in restoring civilian rule.
Since taking power in 2022, the military authorities have implemented strict measures, including postponing elections intended to return the country to civilian governance and dissolving the independent electoral commission.
