Burkina Faso’s military government dissolves political parties

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 29, 2026 at 10:53 PM

AI Summary

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In January 2026, Burkina Faso's military government dissolved all political parties, building on a previous suspension of their activities following a coup four years prior. The decree, issued by the council of ministers, is part of a broader effort to "rebuild the state" amid ongoing struggles to contain insurgencies. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo stated that the proliferation of political parties had fueled divisions and weakened social cohesion. All assets of the disbanded parties will be transferred to the state. Led by Captain Ibrahim Traore since a 2022 coup, Burkina Faso has also cut ties with France and sought security support from Russia. This action follows previous crackdowns on dissent, including restricting access to certain news and human rights websites.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sahel ×240% France 40% Russia 40% BBC 40% Voice of America 40% Human Rights Watch 40% Roch Marc Kabore 50% Emile Zerbo ×260% al-Qaeda 60% Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) 60% Ibrahim Traore 70% Burkina Faso ×690%

Keywords

political parties 100% burkina faso 90% military government 80% dissolution 70% coup 70% social cohesion 60% insurgencies 50% dissent 50% ibrahim traore 40% crackdown 40%