Burkina Faso Dissolves All Political Parties

Burkina Faso's military government dissolved all political parties on Thursday, scrapping the legal framework that governed their operations and transferring their assets to the state, in a move officials described as essential to rebuilding national unity amid ongoing security challenges.

The decree, approved by the Council of Ministers in the capital, Ouagadougou, ends the existence of more than 100 registered parties that had operated before the 2022 coup led by Captain Ibrahim Traore. Political activities had already been suspended following Traore's seizure of power in September 2022, eight months after an earlier military overthrow of elected President Roch Marc Kabore. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo announced the decision after the cabinet meeting, stating it addressed widespread abuses and dysfunction in the multiparty system. "The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to excesses, fostering division among citizens and weakening the social fabric," Zerbo said. He cited a government review that found parties had deviated from their establishing guidelines, though no specific examples were provided.

Before the coups, 15 parties held seats...