Burkina Faso military regime dissolves all political parties

‎Burkina Faso’s military regime has dissolved all political parties and associations and repealed the laws regulating their operations, in a sweeping move that effectively ends formal party politics in the country.

‎The decision was announced by the presidency’s communications directorate following a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

‎Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Émile Zerbo, said the action formed part of what he described as a broader effort to “re-found the state”.

‎According to the official statement, the authorities argued that the proliferation of political parties had contributed to divisions among citizens and weakened social cohesion.

‎

‎“The measure aims to preserve national unity, strengthen the coherence of government action, and open the way for a reform of political governance,” the presidency said.

‎Under the decree adopted by the Council of Ministers, all assets belonging to the dissolved political parties are to be transferred to the state.

‎Zerbo said draft legislation to formalise the decision would be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly in the coming days.

‎Before the military takeover, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament following the 2020 general elections.

‎After Traoré seized power in a military coup in September 2022, political parties were ordered to suspend their activities as part of the transition arrangements.

‎At the same meeting, the government also approved a new national development framework known as the “Reliance Plan”, a five-year roadmap valued at FCFA 36 trillion (about $65 billion), covering the period from 2026 to 2030.

‎

‎