Burkina Faso Junta Dissolves Political Parties

The military junta in Burkina Faso has announced the dissolution of all political parties and formations across the country, repealing existing laws governing their activities.

The decision was made during a council of ministers’ meeting presided over by the junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and made public through a statement issued by the presidency’s communications directorate on Thursday.

According to Émile Zerbo, Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, the move marked “a great and important decision as part of the re-founding of the state.”

The presidency explained that the action followed years of what it described as political fragmentation that had weakened national cohesion.

“The numerous political parties have led to drifting, favouring the division of citizens and weakening the social fabric,” the statement read.

It added that the measure aimed to “preserve national unity, strengthen the coherence of governmental action, and open the way for a reform of political governance.”

Under the new decree, all property belonging to the dissolved parties will be handed over to the state. Zerbo noted that “the draft laws will be passed to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible.”

Before the September 2022 coup that brought Traoré to power, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament following the 2020 elections. The junta had earlier suspended all political activities after seizing power.

Meanwhile, the council of ministers also adopted a national development framework known as the Reliance Plan, valued at FCFA 36 trillion (about $65 billion). The plan spans from 2026 to 2030 and is designed to guide the country’s socio-economic recovery under military rule.