Political parties are disbanded by the Burkina Faso military regime

The West African country’s council of ministers issued a decree on Thursday that declared Burkina Faso’s military-led administration to have disbanded all political parties and eliminated the laws that governed their activities.

Following the suspension of political activity following the coup, the decision made by the military rulers who took over in September 2022 is the most recent attempt to tighten control.

Emile Zerbo, the interior minister of Burkina Faso, claimed that the decision was a part of a larger attempt to “rebuild the state” following massive abuses and dysfunction in the nation’s multiparty system.

He said a government investigation showed that the growth of political parties has fostered divides and damaged social cohesiveness.

Over 100 political parties were registered in the nation prior to the coup, and 15 of them were represented in parliament following the general election in 2020.

All political groupings and parties are dissolved by the decree. According to the minutes of the cabinet meeting, a legislation that repeals the statutes and regulates party financing as well as the opposition leader’s standing would be sent to the present transitional council.

All the assets of the dissolved parties will be transferred to the state.

The Sahel nation, like neighbours Mali and Niger, has been battling to suppress Islamist insurgencies connected to al Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed thousands and uprooted millions over the past decade.