Why Has Burkina Faso Banned Political Parties, and What’s Next?!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan (Editor‑in‑Chief) | Sele Media Africa Journalist
OUAGADOUGOU — Burkina Faso’s military‑led government has formally banned and dissolved all political parties and political groupings in the country, scrapping the entire legal framework that governed their operations. The decree was approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has ruled since a military coup in September 2022.
Grounds for the Ban
According to the government decree, authorities justified the ban as part of a broader effort to “rebuild the state” after what officials described as widespread abuses and dysfunction within the multiparty system. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo told reporters that the proliferation of political parties had fuelled divisions among citizens and weakened social cohesion. All assets belonging to dissolved parties are to be transferred to the state.
Before the 2022 coup, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in the 2020 National Assembly. Parties such as the People’s Movement for Progress, Union for Progress and Reform, New Era for Democracy, and others — all vital players in the previous democratic process — are now officially dissolved.
Context: Coup, Suspension, and Postponed Elections
Political parties had already been suspended since the 2022 coup that ousted the civilian government of Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The military government initially promised elections by 2024, but later postponed those timelines — currently pointing to a return to electoral politics only by 2029. Critics argue this postponement and the ban on parties signal a long extension of military rule.
Burkina Faso’s transitional leadership also dissolved its Independent National Electoral Commission in 2025, citing cost and inefficiency, further raising concerns about the feasibility of future democratic elections under the current regime.
Security Challenges and Political Turmoil
The political overhaul unfolds amid a deep security crisis. Armed groups linked to al‑Qaeda and Islamic State have intensified violence across much of the country, controlling large swathes of territory and displacing communities, according to analysts. Security concerns have often been cited by the junta as justification for rejecting democratic timelines and consolidating executive power.
Regional dynamics also play a role. Burkina Faso recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) alongside Mali and Niger, forming the Alliance of Sahel States — a bloc that has pushed back against Western influence and current regional governance norms.
Reactions and Human Rights Concerns
Rights groups and opposition figures have condemned the party ban as a blow to democracy and civic freedoms. Critics argue that dissolving parties and concentrating power in military hands undermines constitutional governance and the right to political participation. Many political leaders, journalists, and civil society activists have already faced arrests or forced conscription in recent years for opposing the junta’s policies.
What’s Next?
The Burkinabe government says it plans to develop new legislation to guide the formation and regulation of future political organizations — although no clear timeline has been provided. The Transitional Legislative Assembly, appointed under the military government, is expected to review such laws, but concerns remain about the independence and representativeness of the legislative process.
Observers warn that without tangible guarantees for political freedoms, Burkina Faso risks prolonged authoritarian rule, with elections and political competition postponed indefinitely in the name of stability and national unity.
1.Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burkina-faso-military-government-dissolves-political-parties-2026-01-29/
2.Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_Democracy_and_Socialism/Metba
3.Al Jazeera – https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/30/why-has-burkina-faso-banned-political-parties-and-whats
4.AP New– https://apnews.com/article/19d83b07b9e7700cad650583d354bd4d
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