On Jan. 29, 2026, Burkina Faso’s military-led government dissolved all political parties and scrapped party laws by decree approved by the Council of Ministers in Ouagadougou.
Burkina Faso’s military junta dissolved all political parties and repealed the laws governing them by decree on Thursday.
Activists say that this and previous similar measures since the Army took power in a coup d’état in 2022 are destroying civil liberties and the opposition.
The activities of political parties have long been suspended in that country, and the new decree requires that their party assets be transferred to the state, the government news agency announced.
Minister of Territorial Administration Emil Zerbo said that the parties were abolished after the authorities determined that they “deviated from the guidelines according to which they were founded.”
“The government believes that the expansion of political parties has led to excesses, fueling divisions among citizens and weakening the social fabric,” he said after a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday where the measure was approved.
The minister said that “as soon as possible” legislative proposals will be submitted to the legislative authority that will lead to the establishment of political parties and groups under new, so far unknown conditions.
Burkina Faso is among a growing number of countries in West and Central Africa under military rule.
Since taking power in a coup in 2022, its military leaders have launched sweeping changes, including postponing elections expected to restore civilian rule.
