Burkina Faso’s military rulers have announced a sweeping ban on all political parties, marking a major escalation in the junta’s consolidation of power nearly three years

after seizing control.

The decree, announced by Interior Minister Emile Zerbo, formally dissolves political parties whose activities had already been suspended since the 2022 coup. Before the takeover, the country had more than 100 registered parties, reflecting one of West Africa’s most crowded multiparty systems.

Zerbo said the decision was taken as part of efforts to “rebuild the state,” arguing that Burkina Faso’s political landscape had been plagued by “numerous abuses.” According to him, the multiparty system had fostered division among citizens and weakened national cohesion rather than strengthening democracy.

Under the new order, political parties are no longer allowed to operate in any capacity. Their assets will be transferred to the state, the minister added, noting that a draft law would be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly “as soon as possible” to formalise the move.

Political parties had already faced strict limits under the junta, including bans on public meetings and rallies. The latest measure goes further, effectively erasing organised political opposition from the public sphere.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who led the 2022 coup that ousted Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has drawn criticism at home and abroad for suppressing dissent and curbing civil liberties. Damiba himself had been in power for only nine months before being removed.

Traoré initially promised a return to civilian rule by 1 July 2024. However, two months before that deadline, the junta announced it would extend the transition period by another five years, pushing elections further into the future.

Despite his increasingly authoritarian rule, the 37-year-old leader has built a strong following across parts of Africa. Supporters praise his pan-Africanist rhetoric and his outspoken criticism of Western influence in the region.

Burkina Faso is one of several West African nations to have experienced military coups in recent years, a trend that has raised alarms about democratic backsliding and long-term stability across the region. Photo by Wendkouni, Wikimedia commons.