Burkina Faso
Wednesday 22.12.2021 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Mass protests against increasing insecurity; authorities shut down mobile internet
On 27th November 2021, anti-riot police attempted to disperse, including through the use of tear gas, a protest against increasing insecurity, caused by terrorist attacks, and the "incapacity " of the administration of president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré to deal with this violence, in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou. Police were massively deployed in the capital to prevent the protesters from gathering at the Place de la Nation. Following the police action, protesters erected barricades and burned tyres in several neighbourhoods of the city, leading to confrontations with security forces. Read more | Read in French
Monday 12.7.2021 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Increasing insecurity in Burkina Faso: mass protests, two journalists, one conservationist killed
On 3rd and 4th July 2021, protests in several localities in Burkina Faso took place against increasing insecurity due to attacks by armed jihadist groups and to demand government action. Opposition and some civil society groups had called for the protests. People gathered in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Ouahigouya, Kaya, Fada N’Gourma and other localities, carrying placards with “No to endless attacks” and “No to the abandonment of populations” Read more | Read in French
Monday 6.7.2020 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Protest in Fada N’Gourma against insecurity and stigmatisation
According to RFI, between 700 and 1000 people marched in Fada N’Gourma, eastern Burkina Faso, on 13th June 2020, against abuses against the population, in particular the Fulani community, and insecurity in eastern Burkina Faso. Protesters say that the civilian 'homeland defense volunteers' units, set up by the government in the fight against terrorist attacks, were targeting and stigmatising mainly members of the Fulani community. Read more
Monday 30.3.2020 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Detention activists, protests banned, negative impact of terrorism on media freedom
Police officers detained online activist Naïm Touré on the night of 12th to 13th November 2020 in a location unknown until hours later. The National Police declared later that Touré was accused of 'attempting to demoralise security and defence forces' for comments he made on social media in relation to certain promotions within the defence forces. On 14th November 2019 he was released without charge. As reported previously on the Monitor, Naïm Touré was sentenced in July 2018 to a prison sentence of two months on charges of 'incitement to revolt' for a Facebook post. Read more | Read in French
Wednesday 25.9.2019 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
National Assembly adopts amendments to Criminal Code: restrictions to freedom of expression
On 21st June 2019, Burkina Faso's National Assembly adopted a law amending the Criminal Code, which includes several provisions restricting freedom of expression, press freedom and the right to information. Read more
Tuesday 17.7.2018 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Blogger Naïm Touré sentenced to two months in prison
On 3rd July 2018, the Court of Ouagadougou sentenced Burkinabé cyberactivist Naïm Touré to a prison sentence of 2 months on charges of 'incitement to revolt'. Read more
Monday 15.1.2018 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
French President's visit sparks protests in Ouagadougou
Groups of students protested against French president Emmanuel Macron's November 2017 visit to the University of Ouagadougou I, where he addressed hundreds of students on French politics in Africa. The protesters attempted to enter the university but due to the presence of security forces, some of the student protesters moved to the Zogona neighbourhood, where clashes with security officers took place. Read more
Friday 27.10.2017 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Peaceful protests prohibited by authorities
Authorities prohibited several protests the past two months in Burkina Faso. The mayor of Ouagadougou denied authorisation for a protest, planned on 23rd September, of Togolese nationals in the country to demand political reforms and a democratic change in Togo. The authorities claimed that the protests risked to 'to create disturbances to the public order, between nationalsTogolese nationals in Burkina Faso and even relations between our two republics'. Balai Citoyen, a social movement in Burkina Faso, has condemned the decision of the Mayor and called it 'an attack on public freedoms in general, and on the freedom of expression of Togolese nationals living in Burkina in particular'. Read more
Friday 11.8.2017 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Journalist acquitted of defamation charges
Lookmann Sawadogo, director of publications for the newspaper Le Soir, was aquitted by the Court of First Instance in Ouagadougou for charges of defamation under the Penal Code on 10th August 2017. Read more
Tuesday 23.5.2017 Burkina Faso - Latest Developments -
Trade union concerned over proposed bill to curtail right to strike
On 21st April 2017, the Committee on General Institutional and Human Rights of Burkina Faso's National Assembly notified the Union d’Action Syndicale (Organisation for Trade Union Action - UAS) of a proposed bill to regulate public service employees' right to strike. Read more