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Burkina Faso’s military government has dissolved 118 NGOs and associations, citing non-compliance with a 2025 law regulating civil society groups.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Burkina Faso is currently run by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who took power after launching a coup. He promised to restore security and stability in a country under siege from jihadist violence linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Four years into his rule, terrorist attacks have surged and instead of delivering the elections he once promised, Traore has locked down power. He scrapped all political parties in January, ordered NGOs to shift their funds into a government-run bank, and recently told the public to “forget about” democracy. He’s also been a vocal critic of the United States and other Western nations, often claiming that they seek to control and “pillage” African countries of their resources.

What’s going on now: Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Territorial Administration announced Wednesday the dissolution of 118 associations and NGOs, many involved in human rights work, under a July 2025 law Traore signed restricting the operations of civil society groups. The announcement follows an earlier round of crackdowns in which 21 rights groups had their licenses revoked, and 10 others were suspended.

Amnesty International came out swinging over the announcement. In a statement, Ousmane Diallo, a senior official for the Sahel region, said, “We are alarmed and deeply concerned by this flagrant attack on the right to freedom of association. This dissolution is also entirely inconsistent and incompatible with Burkina Faso’s international human rights obligations.” Diallo called on authorities to immediately reverse the decision.

This all comes as Traore has used accusations of foreign espionage to justify his crackdowns, with internationally funded NGOs regularly accused of colluding with the jihadist groups his government has failed to contain. Traore also expelled French forces that had previously been helping fight them in the region, severed ties with traditional Western partners, and moved Burkina Faso closer to Russia, framing the pivot as a rejection of neo-colonialism.