An international non-governmental organization (NGO) in Burkina Faso confirmed on Friday that eight of its members have been released after months of detention by the country’s military regime. The arrests were part of a broader crackdown by the junta, which seized power in a coup in September 2022.
The military government had previously revoked the authorizations of 21 NGOs in July, including the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), a Netherlands-based entity focused on providing security analyses for humanitarian organizations in delicate regions.
INSO expressed gratitude for the support that led to the safe release of its colleagues in a statement. The organization clarified that the detainees, composed of a Frenchman, a French-Senegalese woman, a Czech man, a Malian, and four Burkinabe nationals, were arrested beginning in July, although these details were not made public until early October. Their release occurred at the end of October.
Burkinabe authorities had accused INSO staff of gathering and sharing sensitive security information with foreign powers, alleging that they continued their operations covertly despite the ban on the organization. INSO swiftly denied these allegations, asserting its commitment to humanitarian principles and its role in supporting humanitarian operations.
The organization emphasized its dedication to providing safety for humanitarian efforts in Burkina Faso, where it has been active since 2019 following requests to bolster NGO capabilities.
Burkina Faso has faced significant challenges from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, leading to increased repression of dissent, particularly against civil society and media, under the guise of combating this violence.
This crackdown on NGOs and civil liberties reflects a troubling trend in the region, as neighboring Niger, also under military rule, similarly revoked INSO’s authorization to operate late last year.
