Burkina Faso’s Government Dissolves all Political Parties

Burkina Faso’s government has dissolved all political parties in the country and scrapped the laws governing them, according to a decree approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday.

The decree requires the assets of the parties to be transferred to the state, the government-run news agency reported.

Minister of Territorial Administration Emile Zerbo said the dissolution came after authorities found that the parties had deviated from the guidelines establishing them.

“The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to excesses, fostering division among citizens and weakening the social fabric,” Zerbo said after Thursday’s meeting.

He said draft laws that will guide the establishment of future political parties and groups will be submitted to the legislature “as soon as possible”.

Activities by political parties have long been suspended under Captain Ibrahim Traore, who took power in a 2022 coup.

Since then, the government has launched sweeping reforms, including postponing elections that were expected to restore civilian rule and dissolving the country’s independent electoral commission.