Burkina Faso junta dissolves all political parties

Burkina Faso has dissolved all political parties and political formations and repealed the laws governing their operation.

The decision was announced in a statement by the presidency’s communications directorate after junta leader Ibrahim Traoré presided over a meeting of the council of ministers.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Émile Zerbo, said the move was deliberate and far-reaching. He said the “great and important decision is part of the re-founding of the state.”

According to the presidency, the proliferation of political parties in the country had resulted in political drift, encouraged divisions among citizens, and weakened the nation’s social fabric.

The statement said the dissolution was aimed at preserving national unity, strengthening the coherence of government action, and creating room for a comprehensive reform of political governance.

It added that under the adopted decree, all assets belonging to the dissolved political parties are to be handed over to the state. “The draft laws will be passed to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible,” Zerbo said.

Before the military takeover, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament following the 2020 general election.

After Traoré seized power in a coup in September 2022, political parties were compelled to suspend their activities. During the same council of ministers meeting, the government also adopted a state development roadmap known as the “Reliance plan.”

The plan, valued at FCFA 36 trillion, approximately $65 billion, is expected to run from 2026 to 2030.