Burkina Faso Junta Imposes Total Ban on Political Parties

Tue Feb 03 2026 19:30:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move, Burkina Faso's ruling military junta has announced a ban on all political parties, further tightening its grip on power amidst growing criticism.

Burkina Faso's junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has officially banned all political parties, consolidating power since seizing control in 2022. This decree prohibits any political activity and redistributes party assets to the state, with officials citing the need to 'rebuild' the country after previous abuses. The new legislation follows sustained criticisms of the junta's suppressive measures against dissent. The political landscape has been dramatically altered, reflecting ongoing instability in West Africa.

Burkina Faso Junta Imposes Total Ban on Political Parties

Burkina Faso's junta has announced a ban on all political parties, a move that further cements their authority after the military takeover in 2022. Previously, political parties had been restricted from holding public gatherings, but this new decree effectively halts all operations of political entities.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the junta leader, has faced increasing scrutiny for his administration's tactics to suppress dissent. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo indicated that the ban is part of broader efforts to 'rebuild the state,' citing numerous 'abuses' attributed to the former multiparty political system.

According to Zerbo, the existing political framework was fostering division among citizens and eroding societal cohesion. Consequently, all assets belonging to dissolved political parties will be transferred to the state, with a draft law slated to be presented to the Transitional Legislative Assembly imminently.

Prior to the coup, Burkina Faso had over 100 registered political parties, with 15 holding representation in parliament following the 2020 general elections. The junta's actions follow an earlier coup by Traoré that ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had just assumed power nine months before.

Although Traoré pledged to restore civilian governance by July 2024, a recent extension of military rule for an additional five years has raised alarms about the future of democracy in the region. Despite his authoritarian image, Traoré has garnered a significant following for his pan-Africanist vision and critique of Western influence.

This initiative mirrors trends in several other West African nations, leading to increasing concerns regarding regional stability.