Burkina Faso’s military government has officially dissolved all political parties in the country, including those that had been allowed limited internal operations despite being banned from public activities since the 2022 coup.
The decision was announced on Thursday by the presidency, which said the move aims to address the “proliferation of political parties” that it claims has caused divisions among citizens, weakened social cohesion, and allowed for abuses.
Captain Ibrahim Traore, who took power in a September 2022 coup after ousting a previous military leader, has increasingly restricted political freedoms and dissenting voices in the country. Under the new directive, the assets of all dissolved parties will be transferred to the state.
A draft law formalizing the dissolution will be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly, according to Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo. Officials say the measure is intended to strengthen government coordination, preserve national unity, and reform political governance.
The action affects roughly 100 parties, including 15 with representation in parliament. Traore’s 2022 takeover followed the removal of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was later extradited from Togo amid allegations of plotting coups and assassination attempts.
