Burkina Faso’s ruling military authorities have formally wiped the political slate clean, dissolving all political parties and annulling the legal framework that governed them, according to a decree adopted by the government on Thursday.
The decision deepens a clampdown on organised political activity that critics say has steadily narrowed civic space and sidelined opposition voices since the army seized power in a 2022 coup. Political party activities had already been frozen for months, but the latest decree goes further by ordering that party assets be handed over to the state, the government-run news agency reported.
Officials argue the move is aimed at restoring social cohesion. Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo said an official review concluded that parties had strayed from the principles under which they were formed.
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“The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to excesses, fostering division among citizens and weakening the social fabric,” he said after the Council of Ministers meeting that approved the measure, according to AP’s report.
Zerbo added that authorities are preparing new draft legislation to regulate any future political formations. He said proposals outlining how parties and political groups may be established will be sent to the legislature “as soon as possible.”
Burkina Faso has become a focal point in a wider wave of military takeovers across West and Central Africa, where coups have been followed by stalled transitions back to civilian rule.
Since overthrowing the previous government in 2022, the junta has rolled out far-reaching changes, including pushing back elections that were meant to mark a return to democracy and dismantling the country’s independent electoral commission.
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