Burkina Faso’s military-led government has dissolved all political parties and political organisations in the country, while also repealing the laws that regulate their operations.
The decision was announced on Thursday by the presidency’s communications directorate following a council of ministers meeting presided over by Ibrahim Traoré, the head of the military junta.
Speaking after the meeting, Émile Zerbo, minister of territorial administration and mobility, described the move as a major step in the “re-founding of the state.” According to the presidency, the large number of political parties in the country had contributed to divisions among citizens and weakened social cohesion.
The statement said the action is intended to promote national unity, improve coordination in governance, and pave the way for reforms in the country’s political system.
Under the newly adopted decree, all assets belonging to the dissolved political parties are to be transferred to the state. Zerbo added that draft laws related to the decision would be forwarded to the Transitional Legislative Assembly for consideration as soon as possible.
Before the military takeover, Burkina Faso had more than 100 registered political parties, with 15 of them holding seats in parliament following the 2020 general election. After Traoré seized power in a coup in September 2022, political parties were ordered to suspend their activities.
At the same council meeting, the government also approved a national development roadmap known as the “Reliance Plan.” The plan, valued at FCFA 36 trillion (about $65 billion), is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2030.
