Burkina Faso's junta has announced a ban on all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since the military seized power in 2022. Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré has been criticised for suppressing dissent, and the move will be seen as the latest strategy to tighten control over the country.
According to Burkina Faso's Interior Minister Emile Zerbo, the ban is part of plans to rebuild the state after what he described as numerous abuses in the country's multiparty system that had been promoting division among citizens and weakening the social fabric. Previously, parties were banned from holding public gatherings, but this new decree prohibits them from operating altogether.
All assets of the dissolved parties will be transferred to the state, Zerbo stated, adding that a draft law will be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible. Before the coup, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament after the 2020 general election.
A member of a civil society group expressed concern about the ban, saying, This will not help the country move forward. We're not happy with this. Critics argue that the junta is propagating the narrative that democracy is harmful to Burkina Faso. While the regime has attempted to position itself as a stabilizing force amid political chaos, the potential for unrest remains high, with fears that another coup could disrupt the fragile leadership.
Public reaction has been divided; while some expressed backlash against the ban on social media, others have shown support for the junta's decision, citing that the existence of over 100 political parties has contributed to chaos and corruption within the political landscape.
After ousting Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in a coup last year, Traoré's regime has promised to restore civilian governance by July 2024 but has recently indicated plans to extend military rule for another five years. Notably, despite his authoritarian image, Traoré has garnered significant support for his bid for a pan-Africanist vision opposing Western influence. The political climate in Burkina Faso reflects broader trends seen in West Africa, where several nations have experienced similar coups and restrictions on political pluralism.
According to Burkina Faso's Interior Minister Emile Zerbo, the ban is part of plans to rebuild the state after what he described as numerous abuses in the country's multiparty system that had been promoting division among citizens and weakening the social fabric. Previously, parties were banned from holding public gatherings, but this new decree prohibits them from operating altogether.
All assets of the dissolved parties will be transferred to the state, Zerbo stated, adding that a draft law will be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible. Before the coup, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament after the 2020 general election.
A member of a civil society group expressed concern about the ban, saying, This will not help the country move forward. We're not happy with this. Critics argue that the junta is propagating the narrative that democracy is harmful to Burkina Faso. While the regime has attempted to position itself as a stabilizing force amid political chaos, the potential for unrest remains high, with fears that another coup could disrupt the fragile leadership.
Public reaction has been divided; while some expressed backlash against the ban on social media, others have shown support for the junta's decision, citing that the existence of over 100 political parties has contributed to chaos and corruption within the political landscape.
After ousting Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in a coup last year, Traoré's regime has promised to restore civilian governance by July 2024 but has recently indicated plans to extend military rule for another five years. Notably, despite his authoritarian image, Traoré has garnered significant support for his bid for a pan-Africanist vision opposing Western influence. The political climate in Burkina Faso reflects broader trends seen in West Africa, where several nations have experienced similar coups and restrictions on political pluralism.
