On the continued crackdown on civic space and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso

B100321/2026

European Parliament resolution on the continued crackdown on civic space and fundamental freedoms in Burkina Faso

(2026/2767(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas since the military coup of 2022, the political, human rights and security situation in Burkina Faso has dramatically worsened;

whereas since the beginning of 2026 political parties have been completely dissolved, and civil society organisations, critical media outlets and human rights defenders are increasingly persecuted;

whereas the originally announced return to civilian rule was increasingly postponed and the independent electoral commission was dissolved;

whereas the security situation remains dire as large parts of the country are affected by violence and Islamists terrorism, and millions of people are displaced and dependent on humanitarian aid;

whereas international media outlets and NGOs were repeatedly suspended or expelled;

whereas in January 2024, Burkina Faso, along with Mali and Niger, withdrew from ECOWAS, and founded the Alliance of Sahel States; whereas in September 2025, they announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court;

whereas in December 2025 Burkina Faso reinstated the death penalty;

whereas, for more than a decade, France and several European partners have provided substantial military support to Burkina Faso and the entire Sahel region in the fight against Islamist terrorist groups, notably through Operations Serval and Barkhane, during which many European soldiers were wounded or lost their lives; whereas the Burkinabe military authorities decided to end this cooperation and demanded the withdrawal of French forces in 2023 and instead pursued a political and military partnership with Russia; whereas this break has not led to an improvement in the security situation, which, on the contrary, continues to deteriorate in large parts of the country;

Condemns the dissolution of political parties and calls on the Burkinabe authorities, in consultation with opposition actors and civil society, to publish a credible timetable to return to a civilian and democratically-elected government;

Calls for the immediate end of the systematic oppression against the political parties, NGOs, journalists and other civil society organisations;

Expresses its concern about the serious violations committed by Jihadist armed groups and by the Burkinabe defense and security forces, and calls for an independent investigation into the crimes committed;

Notes that the expulsion of French forces and the dismantling of established security partnerships have not produced any of the promised security gains; stresses that the military authorities bear a particular responsibility for weakening Burkina Faso’s counter-terrorism capabilities, while favouring alternative partnerships which have not improved the security of the Burkinabe population;

Calls on the Burkinabe government to reverse their decision to withdraw from the ICC and to refrain from reinstating the death penalty;

Calls on the EU bodies, including the Special Representative for the Sahel, to elaborate on a new strategy for the Sahel;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Burkinabe Government and Parliament, the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.​