Burkina Faso’s military-led government has formally dissolved all political parties and political formations in the country, scrapping the legal framework that governed their operation and marking a major shift in the nation’s political landscape. The decree, approved by the country’s Council of Ministers on 29 January 2026, effectively ends the multiparty system that existed before the military takeover.
Interior Minister Emile Zerbo said the decision followed a comprehensive review of Burkina Faso’s partisan system, which the government concluded had fostered division among citizens and weakened social cohesion. Officials claimed the proliferation of more than 100 registered parties prior to the 2022 coup had led to abuses and hindered unity, justifying the dissolution as necessary to “preserve national unity, strengthen the coherence of government action and pave the way for a reform of the political governance model.”
Under the decree, all assets belonging to the dissolved parties will be transferred to the state, and draft laws have been prepared to repeal statutes regulating party financing, operations and the status of the opposition leader. These draft laws are expected to be submitted to the Transitional Legislative Assembly, a body appointed by the military government, for approval.
Political party activity in Burkina Faso had already been largely suspended since Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s junta seized power in September 2022, the second coup in the country that year. At that time, parties were barred from holding public gatherings, but were still permitted to operate internally. The recent decree goes further by eliminating legal recognition and dismantling the institutional framework for political pluralism.
Before the coup, Burkina Faso had a vibrant, if fragmented, multiparty system with more than 100 registered parties, including 15 represented in the 2020 National Assembly elections. The abrupt dissolution thus wipes out decades of political organisation and representation, raising concerns among rights groups and international observers about the shrinking civic space and democratic backsliding in the Sahel nation.
The country continues to grapple with a severe security crisis driven by Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, which have destabilised much of the region. The junta has repeatedly postponed plans for a return to civilian rule, initially pledging elections but extending its own tenure amid ongoing instability. Critics argue the latest move further consolidates military authority and weakens prospects for a democratic transition.
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